Barcelona: November music

This November sees soloists dominating the classical music billing at the city’s concert halls. Guitarists, cellists, flautists and harpists are just some of the star attractions on the programme.

Beatriz Blanco

The Palau de la Música is to play host to performances from the guitarists Manuel González, Manuel Barrueco and Àlex Garrobé on 23 November.

The cellist Beatriz Blanco, the winner of the 2010 Primer Palau, will be performing works by Cassadó and Elgar in a concert on 24 November, accompanied by the JONC Philharmonic.

The OBC will be performing Mozart’s Concert for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, accompanied by Frauke Oesmann and Magdalena Barrera, from 18 to 20 November, it will be showcasing Tchaikovsky’s most romantic side.

And the Fura dels Baus are bringing the Liceu a production of György Ligeti’s Le Gran Macabre, an outstanding opera in the contemporary lyrical repertory. Halfway between comedy and tragedy, this work born of the theatre of the absurd has a highly unique staging.

Barcelona Day in Expo Shangai

José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero & Jordi Hereu

A little over a month before the Universal Expo in Shanghai closes its doors, the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu, has travelled to the Chinese city to promote Barcelona within the framework of this international event.

The aim of this official visit is to provide a boost to economic initiatives which seek to do business in China and to strengthen ties with the city of Shanghai.

On his first day in the Chinese city, the Mayor made an initial visit to the Universal Expo complex and attended a show by Fura dels Baus. This Monday, accompanied by Spanish PM José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero, the Mayor will visit the Barcelona pavilion.

Expo Shangai 2010

This Thursday is Barcelona Day, which will include a symbolic act, awarding the Mayor of Shanghai, Han Zheng, a replica of Gaudi’s lizard. There will also be a show which includes the participation of the first group of Castellers in China, the Xiquets de Hangzhou.

To round off this official trip, the Mayor will visit Singapore where he will deliver an honorary citizen of Barcelona medal to Lee Kuan Yew, the country’s prime minister until 1990.