PICK OF THE WEEK: Andorra (Pyrenees)
Main places:
Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, San Julia de Loria, La Massana, Ordino, Encamp, Canillo, Pas de la Casa
PICK OF THE WEEK: 28th November – 3rd December 2017
MUSIC
Petits cantors d’andorra’s seasonal concert at 19.15h in the Teatre de les Fontetes, La Massana. Andorra’s main children’s choir sing a mixture of traditional religious and secular music.
COR INTERNACIONAL D’ANDORRA: CHRISTMAS CONCERT TOUR. 1) SATURDAY, 2nd DECEMBER at 18.30 at the Church of Santa Maria del Fener, Andorra la Vella. 2) SUNDAY, 3rd DECEMBER at 12h at Ordino Church followed by refreshments, and 3) on the same day at 17h at Sant Serni Church, Canillo followed by traditional hot chocolate and cake. (Free but with a voluntary collection for charity and the choir as you leave.)
Traditional carols from around Europe with new musical arrangements for old favourites such as Away in a Manger arranged by Kirkpatric/Willcocks, and Il est né le divin enfant arranged by John Rutter, plus five rousing carols for you, the audience, to join in (song sheets provided) and ending with a candlelit Silent Night.
2nd Cycle of the Romanesque Festival of Chamber Music: Piano Concert with Jordi Alcobé. Saturday, 2nd December at 17h at the church of Sant Serni, Canillo. (Free but places limited. Pre-book at the Culture Department of Canillo Comú or Tel. 753 624 or 753 623) Jordi Alcobé’s concert will include a selection of contemporary and classical pieces, piano versions, soundtracks and movie music. Among them you can hear pieces from the films Amélie Poulain, The Piano, La Land, Local Hero , Trolls, etc. There will also be the chance to listen to classical composers such as Beethoven and contemporary ones like Mark Knopfler, Elton John and Leonard Cohen.
White Heaven Vocal Group Saturday, 2nd December at 19h at the Centre Cultural, Sant Julià de Lòria. (10€). Six microphones and six voices start the White Heaven Vocal Group’s show. They are six a cappella voices who sing gospel, pop, swing, bossa-nova, jazz… They are proposing a show of between 60 and 85 minutes full of laughter, surprises, vocal effects, choreographies … They interpret their own songs as well as cover versions, with arrangements of well-known songs such as “Ain’t no Sunshine” by Bill Whiters or “Don’t worry be happy” by Bobby McFerrin. With room for interaction with the public, the sound of the vocal sextet White Heaven will leave no one indifferent.
CINEMA
Murder on the Orient Express (Nov. 2017) Monday 27th to Thursday, 30th November at 20.10 at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. (Not recommended for children under 12.) Directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonny Deep, Willem Dafoe. The story: Hercule Poirot, the best detective in the world, decides to leave on the Orient Express. The train accidentally gets stopped because of the strong snow. Little did he know that a murder was planned and that a person on the train was capable of committing such a crime. Will he solve this murder before the train starts moving again?
ART
Saturday, 2nd December at 10h at the Museum Thyssen, Escaldes-Engordany (Free). An open air painting workshop for all ages, that has as its objective the recreation of the Impressionists’ painting methods.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
LA MASSANA CHRISTMAS MARKET From 1st to 10th December in La Plaça de Les Fontetes, La Massana (unless otherwise stated). The traditional Mercat de Nadal/Christmas Market with little wooden chalets, or casetes, offers Christmas products and presents, a small ice rink, lots of workshops for children, singing and dancing shows and performances. The opening hours are 16h – 20h on Friday 1st and 11h – 20h on Saturday 2nd and Sunday, 3rd December. This year there is a permanent Caseta de Pare Noel (Father Christmas) where children can write letters to Santa. On Sunday from 17.30 –18.30 Pare Noel will be there in person! (Ask at the nearest Tourist Office for the full programme with event times.)
EXHIBITIONS
Images to touch at the Tobacco Museum, Sant Julià de Lòria until 28th January, 2018. An exhibition by the Biscay photographer Juan Torre that brings together 18 innovative portraits of artists such as Miguel Ríos, Luz Casal, Paco de Lucía and Luís Eduardo Aute. Photography is an art that conveys an idea, landscape or feeling thanks to a visual image. This is a barrier for the blind or visually impaired.
Images to touch overcomes this using a new printing technique that reproduces the images in relief, photography with touch offering the blind person the opportunity to process the image through touch. The 18 large format photographs are designed to be seen and enjoyed, with the eye and also with the touch. Juan Torre, is a professional photographer with reduced vision due to illness, He dreams of accessing the world of image to the blind and those who have are visually impaired. The Tobacco Museum wants to show visitors Juan Torre’s initiative with the aim of integrating people with functional diversity and sensitizing the general public towards people with visual disabilities. Visiting hours: November and December: From Tuesday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. January: From Tuesday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Culturally yours,
Clare
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Look for about the author of the blog Clare Allcard
See also Andorra travel guide
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also France travel guide
See also Spain travel guide
