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
MUSIC
Tuesday, 30th July at 21.30h at the MW Electricity Museum, Encamp. (Free) Summer Nights at the Museums: Duo Divertimento. Instrumental flute ensemble: Elizabeth Downes (flute) and David Font (guitar) will play a rich and varied repertoire to show that this instrumental combination has interested composers of all periods, since both instruments combine perfectly and at the same time allow for a very diverse timbre.
Tuesday, 30th July at 22h at the Parish church of Sant Iscle and Santa Victoria, La Massana. (Free) An Organ Concert by Michal Novenko. In the framework of the 18th University Campus of the Catalan Language, the Czech concert player and professor at the Charlemagne Centre of Prague, Michal Novenko will offer a recital with works by Bach, Czernohorský, Seger and Cabanilles, which will end with an organ improvisation, of which he is a specialist
Thursday, 1st August at 22h at the Prat Gran, Encamp. (Free) Encamp in the key of light with The Scarlett RotherHood. Live music with Robert Pujol (guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele), Alex Bagaria (harmonica), Elias Porter (violin) and Laura Estiarte (vocals, guitar, ukulele) will interpret, with that personal touch that defines them, cover versions of music from the American roots of bluegrass, folk, old time music, as well as their own songs.
Thursday, 1st August at 21h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Nights of the World: Tijuan. Young, innovative and irreverent; that’s Tijuana. The place that merges the flavors of the world: the place where Caesar salad was invented along with tacos in the form of cones, offering a magnificent repertoire of fish and seafood dishes. The Mexicarte Ballet will offer a streamlined spectacle on the folklore of Mexico, presenting choreographies that tell scenes of customs of Mexican culture. An explosion of joy, color, energy and strength where modern, classical and folkloric dance combines to pay homage to this country full of traditions.
Thursday, 1st August at 22.30h at the Tobacco Museum, Sant Julià de Lòria (Free) Summer Nights at the Museums: Concert Ensemble ad Libitum. A concert in the Museum’s garden by the string quartet, Ensemble ad Libitum, which brings us to the music of the seventh art: film music Through the soundtracks of composers such as Henry Mancini and John Williams, we can evoke some of the most significant moments in the history of cinema. James Bond, Indiana Jones and Darth Vader are just some of the characters we will remember while listening to the sound of Ensemble ad Libitum’s strings at a movie evening. Also, at 21h and 21.30h, visits to the Tobacco Museum are available and from 21h – 22:30h visits to the temporary photographic exhibition.
Thursday, 1st August at 21h at the pop-up Restaurant l’Ovella Negra (The Black Sheep), Vall d’Incles, Canillo Ring +376 388 784 to book a table if you want dinner) Vibrand in Clau de Soul (In the Key of Soul) in Concert. Let yourself be spoiled by music while enjoying it in a unique natural setting! You can dine and enjoy a unique experience and the best achievements of the past and by artists such as Amy Winehouse, Jamiroquai, Adele, Sting, Bruno Mars, Nina Simone, Beatles, Joss Stone, James Brown, Ray Charles and Tom Jobim, among others.
Friday, 2nd August at 23h at Energy Andorra, Escaldes-Engordany. Bowling Night and Live music from Vibrand in Clau de Soul. Don’t miss the opportunity to sing and dance with us to cover versions of funk, jazz, bossanova, reggae and soul that will surprise you with hits by artists such as Sting, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse, among many others!
Friday, 2nd August at ?23h at the cafè teatre La Fada Ignorant, Andorra la Vella. Concerts at La Fada: Ana Martí from Mallorca will premier at La Fada.
Saturday, 3rd August at 20h at the cafè teatre La Fada Ignorant, Andorra la Vella. (Free) Blues jam-session. Every year since 2011, the first Saturday of August is celebrated as International Blues Day. The IBMD organization and the NYC Blues Society are the main nonprofit organizations responsible for planning, promoting and producing this annual celebration. This Saturday, and for the third time in Andorra, we will celebrate together the International Day of Blues at the Ignorant Fairy!
THEATRE
Thursday, 1st August at 20.15h at the Plaça de Les Fontetes, La Massana (Free) La Massana Nights: The Little Circus, a traveling spectacle by the company Fadunito. The smallest circus in the world reaches town. The ring boys are looking for a place to set up the circus. When they have it, they present the smallest artists in the world. A comedy show where the ring boys are in charge of auditioning the audience, as they look for people to perform in the show. Then comes Wet floor with the company Cris-is. The show is about to start. The festival has contracted the services of the company “Wet Floor”, which has more than 30 years of experience. A woman from the cleaning brigade is in charge of cleaning the stage. A simple task, which will become a mission impossible in the face of disaster. Cristina Solé (Los 2play, Circus Klezmer, Imperfect Circus) presents her long-awaited first solo clown. A crazy comedy that will make you almost die laughing!
FESTIVALS
SANT JULIÀ DE LÒRIA FESTA MAJOR continued:
Monday 29th & Tuesday, 30th July.
All free unless otherwise stated
There is also a Fun Fair in the car park opposite Volvo’s
(PG below stands for Plaça de la Germandat.) For maps of the event go to
MONDAY: 11.30h Sant Germà Mass in the parish church. 12h Traditional parade through the streets of St Julià starting from the Plaça Major accompanied by the band Tocabemolls. 13:30h the Cerdà dance and Sardana dancing in the Plaça Major with the traditional Catalan Orchestra la Cobla Vents de Riella. 18h Ball de la Dama Blanca (Dance of the White Lady) by the Colla de Gegantes de Sant Julià de Lòria accompanied by the Cobla Vents de Riella. Ballets by the folk dance group Esbart Laurèdia. Dance of Sant Julià’s Giants by the Colla de Gegantes de Sant Julià de Lòria.
Dance of the Marratxa by the Esbart Laurèdia and Sardana dancing in the Plaça Major, both with the traditional Catalan Orchestra la Cobla Vents de Riella. 20h Children’s spectacular. Adventures with the company Festuc Teatre in the Barri Rocacorba. 22:30h Concert with SUU in the PG. 00h A performance by the drum band Toca-te’l in the PG. Toca-te’l is a group originally formed by young Lauredians (from Sant Julià de Lòria) who animate fiestas not only of their own parish but of other parishes too. Now the band has members from almost every parish in Andorra and is open to anyone who wants to join. 00:30h Concert with Oques Grasses in the PG followed at 02h by a Concert with Porto Bello in the PG.
TUESDAY: 11h Children’s Concert with the group El Pot Petit. PG. (In case of bad weather the concert will be moved to Sant Julià’s Cultural Centre) 11:30h Mass for the deceased of the parish in the Parish Church. 20h Havaneres (sea shanties) and burnt rum by Xarxa in the Plaça Major. Xarxa is a group of Havanera singers from Barcelona. (Havanera is the name of specific, very popular, sea shanties created by Catalan sailors who followed the cargo trade routes from Havana, Cuba to Barcelona.) The group tries to convey the affection for the Havanera genre through local concerts and repertoires that combine new and traditional songs. 23h Spectacular firework display to end the festival by Terra Bogada. 00h Concert with Carlos Baute in the PG. 02h Night of Cover Versions with the group Sixtus in the PG.
CINEMA
Monday 29th – Wednesday, 31st July at 17.45h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. (VOSE subtitles in Spanish) The Lion King. Directed by Jon Favreau. Starring: Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Seth Rogen. The Story: After the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.
Monday 29th – Wednesday, 31st July at 20.15h and Thursday, 1st August at 17.45h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. (VOSE subtitles in Spanish) Apollo 11. A documentary 50 years in the making. Directed by Todd Douglas Miller. Starring: Buzz Aldrin, Joan Ann Archer, Janet Armstrong. The Story: A look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.
Thursday, 1st August at 20h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. (VOSE subtitles in Spanish) Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw. Directed by David Leitch. Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba. The Story: Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.
CHILDREN (All children’s activities are in Catalan unless otherwise stated.)
Monday, 29th July at 15h at the Plaça of L’Església Sant Pere, Pas de la Casa. Summer afternoons at Pas de la Casa with the Xaxipiruli festival. Come, dance and have fun with the Strawberry Witch and Mrs. Mongeta as they entertain us, not to mention the Camallarg, a very busy shaker.
Tuesday, 30th July at 17h in the Prat Gran, Encamp. Afternoons in Encamp: Casa con Karibú. What does Karibú mean? Well it means welcome! Welcome to this musical entertainment show celebrating solidarity, development, children’s rights and fair trade.
Wednesday, 31st July starting at 16.40h at the Prat Gran, La Massana. Little Summer Afternoons. Large, handmade, natural wood games that will take us back into the past whilst enjoying the present. Parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren can play together and will forget technology for a while. Everyone can enjoy these recreational facilities that will be installed in the afternoon at Prat del Colat. There will be games of different levels of difficulty for all ages.
Saturday, 3rd August (no time given) at the Thyssen Museum, Escaldes-Engordany. Cthyssen Andorra in Pleinair. An outdoor painting activity, as done by the Impressionist painters. Both young and old can show their talent.
Saturday, 3rd August at 16.30h in the Parking Plaça Prat del Riu, Canillo. Children’s activities: Play at being little – and become big! Summer activity for children.
Every Saturday from 6th July to 10th August and from 10h – 13h and 16h – 19h at the Plaça de l’Església, Pas de la Casa and at the Prat Gran, Encamp, you will find lots of Inflatables where you can have fun with your friends.
Sunday, 4th August from 10 – 14h & 15 – 18h up the Vall d’Incles, Canillo. Live Incles. Activities aimed, throughout the day, at a family audience: Story telling, giant games, children’s workshops, theatre scenes.
SPORT
OTHER
Wednesday, 31st July at 20.30h at different places around the parish of Escaldes-Engordany starting from the CAEE /Centre d’Art of Escaldes-Engordany. (Prior booking obligatory on tel. (+376) 802 255 or at [email protected] ) Summer Nights at the Museums: The Art Route. Stroll through the streets of Escaldes to discover the multiple testimonies of public art that are part of the urban landscape, from the sculpture Tardejant, by Mercè Ciaurriz, to the works of Sergi Mas.
Thursday, 1st August at 21h at the Sorteny Refuge, Ordino. (Free) (To register call CENMA (+376) 742 630 or email [email protected] Thirteenth edition of Night of the Moths of Andorra. The Centre for Snow and Mountain Studies of Andorra (CENMA – IEA) invites you to celebrate the thirteenth edition of Moth Night.
This event serves to publicize this fauna, so little known but important to our ecosystem. From CENMA we want to bring this scientific practice closer to its more informative aspect and to teach more about moths throughout Europe and, by changing dates over time, to have representative information of the territories where the night is celebrated. The activity will take place first in the refuge Borda de Sorteny with an introductory talk. Then a trap of ultraviolet light will be checked to observe different specimens of moths. The activity is expected to last for 2 to 3 hours. You need to wear suitable footwear and warm clothes in case it is cold and, if you like, bring something to eat. It is also advised to carry a torch or headlamp.
Friday, 2nd and Saturday, 3rd August at 21.30h on the Iron Route – Llorts, Ordino. (Prior booking obligatory Tel (+376) 878 173.) Night visits to the Iron Mine. Discover the mine and the path of the traginers with torches/head lamps. (Bring your own.) Approximate duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Saturday, 3rd August at 21h in the Museu Areny-Plandolit House, Ordino. (Advance ticket sales at the National Automobile Museum, Casa Rull Museum, Rossell Forge and Casa de la Vall, or pay at the door if places remain.) Summer Nights in the Museums: What do the Gentlemen Want? Dramatized visit to the Casa Areny-Plandolit with the Somhiteatre company, which will present the family history and Andorra with some humorous sallies.
STREET MARKETS
Saturday, 3rd August from 10h – 14h in the Plaça dels Arínsols, Encamp. Encamp Saturday market. The Encamp Entrepreneurs Association (AEE) recommences their traditional market as a showcase for trade in the parish. This initiative, which was launched in 2014 with the collaboration of the Comú d’Encamp, has had numerous auxiliary activities such as botifarrades (sausage barbeques) children’s face painting, magic, musical performances or batucades (drum bands).
Saturday, 3rd August from 11h – 21h in the Historic Centre, Andorra la Vella. Vall Market. On the first Saturday of every month from May to October, the Vall de la Vall market stalls will offer you creative crafts, art and agrifood products. There will be workshops in the morning and entertainments in the afternoon.
Culturally yours,
Clare.
_____________
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
