PICK OF THE WEEK: Monday, 15th April – Sunday, 21st April, 2019

Bank Holidays:

Maundy Thursday afternoon, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Public Holidays: Good Friday and Easter Monday

EASTER CELEBRATIONS

(Unfortunately the Catholic Church’s website is under reconstruction but I have this information for the church of Sant Julià (in Catalan) C.A.

SANT JULIÀ DE LÒRIA CATHOLIC CHURCH:

GOOD FRIDAY. 9h The Way of the Cross. Procession through the streets accompanied by the bugles and drums of the Armats of La Seu. 11.30h Meditation on Jesus’s last words on the Cross. 17h Celebration of the Passion of Christ. 22h Procession through the streets accompanied by the Cobla Principal de Berga.

EASTER SUNDAY. Solemn Easter Mass attended by the Parish and National authorities.

ST GEORGE’S CHURCH, Andorra

EASTER SUNDAY, 21st April at 7h for sunrise at 7.04h at the Coll de la Botella (above Pall), La Massana. St George’s Easter Sunrise Service (in English). A wonderful experience to look east across the Pyrenees, to watch the sun rise above the snow-covered peaks and joyfully to celebrate the risen Christ. Get there a little early. Bring a folding chair to sit on and wear your warmest thermals. Then, after the service, head back down the mountain to warm up with Easter breakfast, at 8.30h at the Hotel Coma, Ordino. (Worried about the cold and the early start? You are still most welcome to join us at the Coma for Easter breakfast.)

MUSIC

ANDORRA SAX FEST 2019 continued.

(All concerts are free)

Monday, 15th April at 20h at the Centre de Congressos, Andorra la Vella: Nacho Gascón. Nacho Gascón is a saxophonist who understands the classical tradition of his instrument and at the same time explores the new and endlessly expressive ways that this versatile instrument is capable of developing.

Tuesday, 16th April at 20h in the Centre de Congressos, Andorra la Vella. Carlos Zaragoza winner of the Solo Saxophone, 2018. v Wednesday, 17th April at 20h in the Centre de Congressos, Andorra la Vella. ONCA Concert Saxist Stagists 2019. Directed by Àlex Sansó. Concertino: Gerard Claret.

Programme:

Johann Sebastian Bach Concert for two violins BWV 1043 Soloists: Christophe Grèzes and Nikita Zimin Jean-Baptiste Singelée Duo concertant for soprano and alto saxophone. Soloists: Claude Delangle and Christophe Bois. Jean-Denis Michat (1971): Cançoner for soprano sax and string orchestra. Soloist: Jean-Denis Michat.

Claude Debussy: Rhapsody for alto sax, string orchestra and harp Soloist: Claude Delangle.

ALSO PYRÉNNÉS WALKING STREET MUSIC by Andorra Sax Fest

Friday, 19th April at 17.30h at E. Leclerc Punt de Trobada: Bandarra Street Orkestra. 19.30h – 20.30h at Pyrénées, Andorra: Always Drinking Marching Band.

Saturday, 20th April at 11h in the Plaça de la Rotonda. Children’s Spectacular. The following performances will all be given by the Bandarra Street Orkestra & the Always Drinking Marching Band: At 12.30h at the Plaça de la Rotonda. From 17h – 19h in the Av. Meritxell. From 19h – 20h in the Plaça de la Rotonda

Monday, 15th April at 22h at the Hotel Magic, La Massana. (Free) Vibrand Concert in Clau de Soul. Mondays start the week with the best vibrations, with live music and with the songs you like the most! We are waiting for you to enjoy a concert that is born of soul and goes through different styles such as funky, bag, jazz, reggae trip hop …, from the successes of current and evergreen performers such as Jamiroquai, Sting, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone, Joss Stone, Adele and Tom Jobim, Toquinho, among others. Also Saturday, 20th at 21.30h at Anyós Park, Anyós.

Thursday, 18th April at 00:00h at Kapital Discoteca, Andorra la Vella. Inauguration of the new Kapital disco, with Bruno Alexandre Demato and DJ Shin and Vasco F.

Thursday, 18th April at 20.30h at Hotel Piolets Centre, Soldeu. (Free) Concert with the band, Shuffle Express. A traditional and contemporary blues night in different styles (swing, rock, shuffle, calypso …) versions of artists such as BB King, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Joe Bonamassa, Susan Tedeschi and Jr. Watson, among others, with some compositions of the band. Musicians: Pablo Villar (vocals and guitar); Virginia Yañez (keyboard and vocals); Marc Milian (bass and sound); Dante Falótico (percussion). Also Friday, 19th April at 20.30h at the The Villager Tapas & Wine, Soldeu And Sunday at 21.30h at El Cabin, Arinsal.

v Sunday, 21st April at 12h in the streets of Ordino. (Free) Caramelles Traditional songs sung at Easter by Caramelles, plus sardanes and waltzes, through the streets of the town performed by the Ordino Artistic Group, the Casamanya Choir and volunteer singers.

CINEMA

Monday 15th – Wednesday, 17th April at 20.15h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. Mia et le Lion Blanc (Mia and the White Lion – in French). Directed by Gilles de Maistre. Starring: Daniah De Villiers, Mélanie Laurent, Langley Kirkwood. The Story: Young Mia’s life gets turned upside down when her family decides to leave London to manage a lion farm in South Africa. When a beautiful white lion named Charlie is born, the 10-year-old finds happiness once again as she develops a special bond with the growing cub. When Mia uncovers a secret that puts Charlie in danger, she sets out on an incredible journey across the wild plains to find a sanctuary for her beloved friend.

CHILDREN (All activities are in Catalan unless otherwise stated.)

Monday, 15th April at 11.30h at the La Llacuna Cultural Centre, Andorra la Vella. (Reservations 682 036.) Pisanka Easter Art. Learn an artistic and creative way to create an Easter egg. Organised by the Ukrainian Association of Andorra.

EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES:

From Monday 15th – Wednesday, 17th April at 17h

at the University Public Library, Sant Julià de Lòria (Prebooking required: [email protected] or Tel. 744 044)

MONDAY: Storytelling: A de Brossa with Assumpta Mercader. The story: The poet, Joan Brossa played and made magic with letters and words. He had an extraordinary imagination that allowed him to create things from everyday objects or, simply, from a word. “A de Brossa” is a proposal put forward with the intention of presenting the poet to children but, above all, it is born with an eagerness to pass on the pleasure of playing and having fun with letters, words and objects.

For children from 5 years of age with an accompanying adult.

TUESDAY: Creative Workshop for children of 3 years and upwards. WEDNESDAY: Storytelling: The drawers of the sky by Ada Cusidó. The story: I have a daughter, she’s little you know? She is called Greta. Sometimes at night she is a little afraid of the dark, but luckily the moon leaves a dream under her pillow, so she sleeps all night long. Today the moon has invited me to dinner at his house and has given me a dream for the Greta. I have it in my pocket. Surely she will like it. Do you want to see it too? For children 3 years and over plus an accompanying adult.

Saturday, 20th April at 11h in the Plaça de la Rotonda. Children’s Spectacular. (Part of the Andorra Sax Fest)

GASTRONOMY

Ending on Monday, 22nd April. La Massana Fogons: winter cuisine. Many of La Massana’s restaurants are participating in offering special winter menus often based around pork and /or calçots Ask for their brochure at your local tourist office or go online to Agenda.ad

OTHER

NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY:

Sant Jordi/ Saint George’s Day of the Book and the Rose.

Tuesday, 23rd April from 10am onwards mainly in the Plaça del Poble, Andorra la Vella. There will be some 40 stands mostly offering books or roses. (See next week for an explanation.) The Writers Group of Andorra will have the full range of their books on offer: some 12 titles in all! There are a number of NGOs raising money as well: Carisma, Infants del Món, the Red Cross, Petits Cantors, Stop Violéncia, Alzheimer’s Association, Laika as well as the secondary schools who sell roses to raise money for their end of year excursions.

Read more: What to do today? Cultural events in Andorra with Clare Allcard ...