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: Monday, 18th February – Sunday, 24th February, 2019
MUSIC
Monday, 18th February at 22h at Hotel Màgic, La Massana. (Free) Vibrand Concert in Clau de Soul. On Mondays the week starts with the best vibrations, with live music and with the songs you like to sing! 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 on Thursday, 21st February at 20.30h at Piolets Centre Hotel, Soldeu.
Tuesday, 19th February at 19h at the The Villager Tapas & Wine, Canillo. (Free) The Swing Girls in concert. Music to listen and dance to. The Swing Girls are three professional singers: Susanne, La Mar and Fanny, who make up this band inspired by the music of the 50s and 60s to the present day. With their own image and style, they pay tribute to the best songs of these decades, with a careful, elegant and dynamic repertoire. A selection of the best artists and hits of these decades, among which we can highlight: The Andrews Sisters, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Megan Trainor and Amy Winehouse. Also Thursday 21st at 21.30h at the Hotel Sport Village, Soldeu.
Wednesday, 20th February at 21h at the Congress Centre, Andorra la Vella. Cultural season: Les Désaxés. ‘SupersaxShow’ -. After their memorable event in 2014, Les Désaxés return with their latest show. Overcoming the fast-paced failure of a failed audition, four saxophone virtuosos come together for the first time. The classic saxophonist and the falsely serious tenor, the studio saxophonist and his voluble high, jazz and his cool baritone, and finally the street saxophonist and his soprano clown … All four begin a musical trip in which everyone makes discoveries about each other: their differences, their dreams and their fantasies.
Wednesday, 20th February at 21.30h at Park Piolets Mountain Hotel & Spa, Soldeu. (Free) Concert of 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, 22nd at 21.30h at El Cabin, Arinsol, and Saturday, 23rd at Hotel Parador Canaro, Soldeu.
Friday, 22nd February at 21.30h at the Hard Rock Cafe, Andorra la Vella. (Free) Hard Rock Café Concerts – Banda Octa. The Banda Octa explain stories through specially written letters and electric guitar arrangements. This is how Ocata is defined. Discover them at Hard Rock Cafe Andorra!
Saturday, 23rd February at 18h at FNAC Andorra, Andorra la Vella Four Flags at the FNAC Forum. Four Flags present their latest work, Virtus Unita Fortior , at the FNAC Forum.
Saturday, 23rd February at 22.30h at the cafè teatre La Fada Ignorant, Andorra la Vella.(14€) Concerts at La Fada Ignorant: Rafa Pons. Rafa Pons returns to his beloved sala at La Fada with his latest work, La Guerra de Sexo.
Sunday, 24th February at 12h at the National Auditorium, Ordino (Tickets. Adults: 12€, Children aged 3 – 12: 5€ children under 3 who don’t use a seat, free Tel 878 173 or www.ordinoclassic.ad) CLASSICAL ORDINO A family concert: Xacona and Rigodó now do the Rodó dance. by the Xuriach Company.
MUSICAL NOTES FOR YOUR DIARY (Some tickets still available.)
Tuesday, 26th February at 20h at the Centre de Congressos, Andorra la Vella. (Tickets 35€/25€. From Centre de Congressos d’Andorra la Vella, Oficina de Turisme d’Andorra la Vella, Departament de Cultura – La Llacuna.
The charismatic Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel is one of the most sought after singers on the international stage of opera, known for the colour, the thrust and the precision of his voice. The son of a farmer, Welsh was his first language. Terfel was initially associated with Mozart’s roles (Figaro and Leporel), but expanded his repertoire to more powerful roles, especially those of Wagner. In the Season he will show why he is one of the most outstanding singers in popular repertoire and musical comedy. Musicians: Bryan Terfel, baritone, Annabel Thwaite, piano.
Wednesday, 3rd April at 21.30 at the National Auditorium, Ordino. The 2019 National Auditorium Season presents James Rhodes with his Fire On All Sides tour. The British pianist James Rhodes is in love with classical music. Charismatic, visceral and with a lot of talent, he claims that Bach has literally saved his life. At the age of 42, and without an academic musical training, he has become one of the main communicators of classical music in the world today, with tours and concerts held in all kinds of festivals and concert halls. There have been several documentaries about him filmed by British television networks. Rhodes has created a distinctive and unique approach to how to present the classic piano repertoire.
Inconsistent with the austere and traditional recital, Rhodes prioritizes direct communication with the public. “In my concerts I speak of the pieces that I interpret, I explain why I have chosen them, what importance they have for me and in what context they were composed.” Thus James Rhodes explains his recitals in the prologue of his book Instrumental: A Memoir of Madness, Medication, and Music (in its 7th edition, the book has sold more than 100,000 copies), with which he has achieved an enormous and unexpected success throughout the world. In addition to playing and contextualizing the works he plays, the British pianist also explains the story of his life and how music has helped him to overcome the obstacles he has encountered on the way. His debut CD Razor Blades Little Pills and Big Pianos (2009) was number 1 on the list of hits from iTunes. And Fire On All Sides, his latest work and the one that will be presented in Andorra, has also been number 1 on iTunes. (And here’s another TEDx talk I found on line. This time from Oxford. C.A.
Tuesday, 19th February at 20.15h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. Streaming from the Royal Opera House, London, Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote with music by Ludwig Minkus. Choreography & Production by Carlos Acosta. Conductor: Martin Yates, Kitri: Akane Takada, Basilio: Alexander Campbell, Espada: Valentino Zucchetti, Mercedes: Mayara Magri, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Don Quixote and his servant Sancho Panza set out to have a chivalrous adventure. They meet Kitri and Basilio, a young couple who cannot marry because Kitri’s father is determined to marry her off to the wealthy Gamache. Don Quixote decides to intervene. With Don Quixote’s help, Kitri and Basilio convince her father to let them marry. Don Quixote also persuades Gamache that he would prefer to marry the barmaid anyway.
Kitri and Basilio celebrate, and everyone cheers Don Quixote on his way. Carlos Acosta’s production was created for The Royal Ballet in 2013, and brings the sunshine of Spain and the exuberance of the entire Company to the stage. Acosta created new choreography for the gypsy scene in Act II, and uniquely for this production of Don Quixote added on-stage musicians. Warmth, charm and entertainment abound in this energetic and witty ballet, reflected too in the characterful backdrops of Tim Hatley’s vibrant designs. Carlos Acosta was born in Havana, Cuba, the eleventh and last child in an impoverished family. Acosta grew up with no toys, sometimes went shoeless, and had his first birthday cake aged 23. He was an over-energetic child, and his father, Pedro Acosta a truck driver, felt that his youngest son would soon land in serious trouble. He decided that dance training at one of Cuba’s state-funded schools would teach the boy discipline and provide him with a free lunch every day. Also on at the same time in the Gerent Cinemes Guiu, in la Seu.
CINEMA
Monday 18th to Thursday 21st February at 20h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. Alita: Battle Angel. Directed by Robert Rodriguez. Starring: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly. The Story: A deactivated female cyborg is revived, but cannot remember anything of her past life and goes on a quest to find out who she is.
Thursday, 21st February at 19h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. (Entrance free, brought by the charity Mans Unides (Hands United.) Cinefòrum Camino a la escuela (On The Way to School – prize-winning film in Spanish) directed by Pascal Plisson. Debate moderator Noemi Rodriguez. The true story of four children and the extraordinary perils and adversities they have to surmount in their long walk to school in search of knowledge.
Thursday, 21st February at 20.15h at Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. Un homme pressé (A Man in a Hurry – in French) Directed by Hervé Mimran Starring Fabrice Luchini, Leïla Bekhti, Rebecca Marder . The Story: After a massive stroke, an overworked business executive meets a young speech therapist who helps him recover and recognize all he has missed out on in life.
Thursday, 21st March at 21h at the National Auditorium, Ordino. Mountain and travel cinema series 2019 Guanyant altura (Gaining height – in Catalan) Audiovisual followed by a talk with Estefania Troguet. The young Andorran woman who has grown up surrounded by mountains, who has spent her life on skis and working as a ski instructor, is heading towards the high mountains. In recent years she has travelled around the world hunting for summits of different altitudes and difficulties. In this film, we will see three: Aconcagua, the highest in South America, where she made two attempts; Denali, the tallest in North America, has dragged a sledge for many miles surrounded by snow and with temperatures between -20º and -30º, and Ama Dablam, one of the most iconic and technical of the Himalayas, with its perfect pyramid shape. These were her three challenges of 2018, which will open doors to the world of 8,000m in 2019.
CARNIVAL
Note times of parades through the streets
CHILDREN (All events will be in Catalan unless otherwise stated.)
Tuesday, 19th February at 18h at the Communal Library, Sports Complex, Encamp. (Free. For children over 6. Places limited. Register at the library.) Carnival Workshop with Mercé Fernández Children will make and decorate a fairy or magician’s hat and magic wand.
Tuesday, 19th February at 18h at the Communal Library, Sports Complex, Pas de la Casa. (Free. For children up to 9-years-old.) Storytelling: The magic of colours with Venessa Silva. Three children from different countries meet one day and, together, they discover the magic of colours. In addition to listening to the story, attendees can experiment by mixing colours and painting on a large mural.
Tuesday, 19th February at 18h at the Art Centre, Escaldes-Engordany. (For children from age 5. Limited places. Reservations to: Tel 802 255 or [email protected]) We plait the plait with artist Girasol Blanco.
Wednesday, 20th February from 18h – 19.30h at the School of Art, Sant Julià de Lòria. (Free. Activity aimed at children and adolescents aged between 10 and 15. Inscriptions open until 28th February at the Cultural Centre or Tel 744 044) Makeup workshop for those inscribed in the traditional lauredian costumes parade: ninotairs, demons and wizards.
Thursday, 21st February at 18h at the Communal Library, Sports Complex, Encamp. (Free. For children up to 9-years-old.) Storytelling: The magic of colours with Venessa Silva. Three children from different countries meet one day and, together, they discover the magic of colours. In addition to listening to the story, attendees can experiment by mixing colours and painting on a large mural.
* Friday, 22nd February from 10h – 12h in the streets of the parish, Sant Julià de Lòria. Carnival Parade by the children of Sant Julià’s schools, accompanied by the fanfare of Tocabemolls. Route: exit of schools, c/ Dr. Palau, av. Verge de Canòlich, pl. Francesc Cairat, av. Verge de Canòlich, pl. Laurèdia, av. Verge de Canòlich ending at the pl. de la Germandat.
Friday, 22nd February starting at 11h, La Massana’s schools will form their Carnival Parade outside the schools up by the Plaça de l’Església and then work their way down to the Plaça de les Fontetes. The road will be shut from approximately 11h – 11.45h
Saturday, 23rd February at 11h at the communal library, La Massana (for toddlers aged 12 – 36 months. Limited places. Pre-bookingrequired: Tel. 838910 or [email protected]) Session: Born to read. History of a garden by Eva González. The story explains the history of a castle’s garden. The story is structured in a such a way that in each episode tells of one of the beings (ants, flowers, etc.) that live in the garden or of the stars and atmospheric phenomena (sun, moon, rain, thunder, rainbow, etc.) that accompany us daily.
Saturday, 23rd February at 17h at the Auditorium of the Palau de Gel ice rink, Canillo. (Tickets 5€ – children under 3 entry free but all need tickets. Collect from reception at the ice rink.) The musicians of Bremen. Children’s musical puppet theatre by Sim Salabim. The musicians of Bremen is the story of four animals: a cat, a dog, a donkey and a rooster, who are forced to leave their jobs because robbers have stolen everything they worked with. By chance, they hear the Mayor of Bremen explain that his citizens are very sad and jealous, and they are looking for musicians who will give them joy. The four animals decide to go to Bremen to wake up the city. On their way, however, they encounter the thieves who are looting the region and decide to give them a good lesson. It is a very visual show, with puppets and actors, and piano music performed live and composed expressly for work. Directed to a child and family audience.
Saturday, 23rd February from 17h – 20h at the School of Art of Sant Julià de Lòria. Customization workshop of the costumes of Ninotaires, Demons and Wizards. Personalizing the costumes of the children and adolescents enrolled in the traditional lauredian carnival fancy dress. Led by the Agrupament Escort and Lauredià.
Sunday, 24th February at 17h at Sala de La Closeta, La Massana, (Ring 835 693 for more information.) Children’s Carnival Fancy dress competition.
See also the Family concert on Sunday, 24th February in Music above.
MORE CARNIVAL EVENTS NEXT WEEK…
EXHIBITIONS
Thursday, 21st February at 20h at Thyssen Museum, Escaldes-Engordany. (5€ Tel 864 976 or: [email protected]) Night Art Pop at Thyssen. Do you want to experience a different experience? The Carnet Jove Andorra returns to the Carmen Thyssen Andorra Museum with an activity that combines art and gastronomy. Yes, yes, how about that? You can discover the world of pop art with all your senses! The Museum will unveil a pop art artwork from the exhibition ‘Femina, Feminae’. From this work we will discover the context, customs and other works that will help us to know and understand the artistic style. But that is not all, in order to be able to experience art in every way, a chef will elaborate a snack and a sandwich related to the work to bring a new reading to it. To participate in this experience with other young people you must have the Carnet Jove, be of legal age and fill in the form that you will find here .You can sign up with a companion, as long as they also have a valid Carnet. Once you have made the reservation, you will receive a confirmation email and you will have to come to the Carnet Jove office within the next 7 days to pay for the activity.
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
