PICK OF THE WEEK: 2nd – 8th April, 2018

PICK OF THE WEEK: Andorra (Pyrenees)

Main places:

Andorra la VellaEscaldes-EngordanySan Julia de LoriaLa MassanaOrdinoEncampCanilloPas de la Casa

PICK OF THE WEEK: 2nd – 8th April, 2018

OPERA

Verdi’s Macbeth Wednesday, 4th April at 20.15h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordny. Opera Direct from The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Directed by Antonio Pappano. Starring:  Željko Lučić as Macbeth, ANNA NETREBEKO as Lady Macbeth, LLDEBRANDO D’ARCANGELO as Banquo, Yusif Eyvazov as Macduff and Francesca Chiejina as Lady-in-waiting.  The Story: the warrior Macbeth fights on the side of the King of Scotland – but when a coven of witches prophesy that he shall become king himself, a ruthless ambition drives Macbeth and his wife to horrific acts. The Music: Despite never having seen Macbeth on stage, Verdi carefully preserved the drama of Shakespeare’s original play and the opera was an instant success on its premiere in 1847. ‘Verdi has captured the world of the Macbeth family in this music,’ says Antonio Pappano. ‘It’s lurid, it’s violent, it’s extravagant and it’s certainly dramatic.’

MUSIC

Jamalkids: Inauguration Family Concert for the Andorra Kids Film Festival:. Saturday, 7th April at 17.30h at the Sala d’Actes in the Comú building of Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Jamalkids is much more than just a concert. It is a musical trip to Jamaica and walks through all the styles emerging from that Caribbean island. From the ska of the 60s to the current dancehall, going through reggae, rocksteady or dub, always lively music with which the little ones can learn to play DJ, sing, dance and even play the trumpet. The much travelled show allows big and small to dance and sing to the rhythm of reggae.

The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross by Joseph Haydn Saturday, 7th April at 20.30h at the Church of Sant Esteve, Andorra la Vella. Orquestra Nacional Clàssica d’Andorra (ONCA) & Abel Tomàs, directed by Abel Tomàs with words written and narrated by Josep Padrals. Commissioned in 1786 for the Good Friday service at the Oratorio of Santa Cueve, Cadiz. In payment Haydn received a cake – filled with gold coins.

Caramelles Sunday, 8th April starting at 11h in the Casa Comuna and ending at 13.45h at the Plaça de la Germandat, Sant Julià de Lòria. sung by the Coral Rocafort & the Petits Cantaires Lauredians. The choirs will be singing these traditional Easter Songs in a total of 10 different locations in Sant Julià ending at the Plaça de la Germandat.

CINEMA

Ready Player One Tuesday 3rd to Thursday, 5th April at 19.45h at Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Egordany. Directed by  Steven Spielberg. Starring: Tye Sheridan,  Olivia Cooke,  Ben Mendelsohn. The Story: When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune.

CHILDREN

El Llibre de la Selva (The Jungle Book) A children’s musical: by Veus-Veus. (in Catalan) Saturday, 7th April at 17h at the Sports Complex, Encamp. (Adults 5€. Children free if booked in advance. Tel. (+376) 731 490). An adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s book, considered one of children’s most exciting adventure stories. The musical tells the misfortunes of Mowgly, a human child bred in the jungle in British India of the late nineteenth century, along with his inseparable friends Baghera and Baloo. Mowgly has the ability to understand and speak the different languages ​​of animals and, with the reasoning and development of human intelligence, becomes the lord of the jungle, and protects all animal species from the dangers of jungle life.

SPORT

2018 FIS Speed Skiing World Cup Friday 6th & Saturday, 7th April from 9h – 12h+ at the Grandvalira, Riberal piste, Gau Roig. Grandvalira will receive the fastest skiers in the world in the last two rounds of the Speed Skiing World Cup Technical characteristics: The Riberal piste has a 10m high tower, 18m in length which launches the skiers downhill, allowing them to reach 200km/h. The Ribel piste, the only one in Southern Europe prepared for such competitions, has a total length of 900m plus a 450m braking zone.

The Day of the Castellers Saturday, 6th April at 16h at the Palau de Gel Ice rink, Canillo. (Free) with the participation of The Castellers d’Andorra and the Manyacs de Parets del Vallès. Never seen the ‘Human Castles’? Great spectator sport! Go and take a look and be prepared to hold your breath as some tiny tot in a crash helmet reaches the pinnacle of the trembling human tower to stick her hand in the air to show she’s safely arrived. Then there’s just the safe decent by everyone to the ground for the performance to be complete.

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

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