“Play me, I’m Yours” at Barcelona

From March 2010, more than 20 street pianos will be distributed across the streets of Barcelona for the International Music Competition Maria Canals. Located in public parks, streets and squares, the pianos are for any member of the public to play, to personalise and to enjoy.

Touring internationally since 2008, “Play Me, I’m Yours” is an artwork by artist Luke Jerram.

The Maria Canals Music International Contest was the first music contest in Spain and is one of the most prestigous all over the world. The Contest will be on from March 13th to March 26th in El Palau de la Música and will organize more than 50 concerts all around Barecelona within the framework of the Off Contest 2010.

Don’t shoot the pianist

The Maria Canals International Music Competition of Barcelona was founded in 1954 by the pianist Maria Canals and her husband, the writer Rossend Llates. This Competition has achieved international prestige since it was accepted by the World Federation of International Music Competitions in 1958.

It is held at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, being endorsed by the World Federation of Music Competitions for the organization of the branches of piano, violin, singing, cello, chamber music, guitar, percussion and flute. Since 1954, the Competition has held over 110 branches, with over 7.000 participants from 100 countries and 180 jury members from all over the world.

The 56th Barcelona Maria Canals International Music Competition will bring together 91 pianists from 26 countries between 13 and 26 March. At the same time, the Off-Competition will be taking piano music to the public.

Maria Canals Competition wants to take advantage of the presence of so many prestigious pianists in the city to take piano music out to the public. More than fifty pianos will be spread around the city so everyone who wants to can play the piano in some very unusual places.

Green spaces, squares and streets will provide the setting for concerts aimed at everyone, children and adults, professionals and amateurs, with grand pianos installed so the participants in the competition can take their art to every corner of the city. Rambla del Raval, Plaça de Sarrià, Can Brians prison and the Line 2 metro station lobby in Plaça de la Universitat are some of the improvised “concert halls” for these young artists.

“La Reial ens mou”, new initiative in Barcelona

Music, children’s shows, literary circles, workshops, wine tasting sessions: all this and much more can be found in Plaça Reial, thanks to Plaça Reial ens mou, an initiative that aims to broaden the range of cultural and leisure activities on offer in this iconic Barcelona square.

Roberto Tierz, who is the president of the Plaça Reial Friends and Traders Association, says the idea is for “the people of Barcelona to rediscover the Plaça Reial and enjoy the square“.

December saw “Raval Kids” and they have also started the Sunday mornings for children, with puppet shows, magic, storytelling and circus acts at the sala Tarantos. Since February they have been offering 30 minutes of jazz, to suit everybody, on Sunday mornings in sala Jamboree. What’s more, when the good weather arrives, there will be some open air activities, like musical aperitifs, to encourage music on the terraces.

La Reial ens mou also wants to make the most of the square’s gastronomic side and has therefore organised tea, coffee and wine tasting, led by tasters and wine experts, in the square’s bars and restaurants.

In short, the big aim is “the ‘reconquest’ of the square, for people to return to a square that has a great deal to offer and is a great unknown in the city“.

If you would like to know all the activities and events that the Plaça Reial Friends and Traders Association will organize with the new initiative, please visit the La Reial website.

Primavera Sound Festival celebrates 10 years at Montjuïc Castle

The line-up for the next Primavera Sound Festival, 10th edition, was dissected in the Anatomical Amphitheatre at the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia, where the names were announced of over 40 artists who are appearing on 27, 28 and 29 May at Forum Park, in addition to the 60 or so already announced.

In all, approximately 170 artists will be taking part in a Primavera Sound celebrating its tenth birthday. The birthday party, about which hardly anything is known, will be held on 26 May at Montjuïc Castle.

So, this time it will be possible to see the Pet Shop Boys, who are appearing on Saturday 29 May in what will be the first performance of the year by the English electronic pop duo. Another historic band coming to the festival are The Charlatans performing their first album, Some Friendly.

In addition, Primavera will also have DJ, producer and composer Diplo, a genuine cult figure responsible for the sound of M.I.A., Santogold and Bonde do Role, as well as remixing Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. Also coming to the festival are Marc Almond, master of cabaret pop; Broken Social Scene, back after five years of being involved in other projects; CocoRosie, the freak folk of the Cassidy sisters, and The Wave Pictures, heirs of Hefner.

Along with the Pixies, Pavement, Wilco and Low, already confirmed, the presence of Junip, the band with José González, has now been confirmed, as well as Gary Numan, synth-pop pioneer; The Slits, a historic post-punk outfit, and some of the successful bands from the last Primavera Club, like Beach House and Scout Niblett.

Local names include Nueva Vulcano, Biscuit, Emilio José, Half Foot Outside, Cohete, Delorean and Mujeres.

 

www.primaverasound.com

De Cajón! Flamenco Festival of Barcelona

Between 11th February and 15th April Barcelona’s “De Cajón!” Flamenco Festival will be playing host to established artists like José Mercé, Rosario, Parrita and Pitingo, the alternative rock-flameno mix of Los Planetas and dance from the legendary Antonio Canales, as well as promoting young talent like the singers Alba Guerrero, Alba Carmona and María Toledo.

Alongside all these performances, “De Cajón!” is also organising a special concert, where young children can enjoy an introduction to the world of flamenco, as well as a new PRK-De Cajón! improvisation concert.

More info, visit the organizers website The Project

Tradicionarius: International Folk Festival

The Tradicionàrius International Folk Festival takes place for the 23rd time, featuring nearly 50 artists, seven album presentations and four new shows that will fill the CAT stage with folk songs and rhythms while including other city venues.

Once again Tradicionàrius wants to make local traditional music and culture more accessible to city residents, without abandoning its aim to evolve and expand. So, until 26 March, Barcelona will be moving to the rhythm of folk.

More inf@: Tradicionarius Website

Sweater, British sound made in Barcelona.

Plan Magistral, their first album, recalls the best in Anglo-Saxon pop rock as well as the indie music scene. As they work on new songs, Víctor Garcia Barriocanal, the lead singer, and Rocky Otto, the keyboard player, tell us how they’ll be including new sounds, such as flamenco, jazz, blues and classical music, as the Barcelona band’s five members take their inspiration from a large and varied range of influences.

Having gone through a “traumatic experience” with a big label, Sweater’s members are keen defenders of self-management and opted for the do-it-yourself approach with their first album, which they produced themselves. It’s a formula they’re sure to follow in the future.

Impeccable sound and detailed, well-crafted lyrics make up the credentials of a group who attach as much importance to their music as they do to their words.

They started off singing in English, but now they sing in Spanish to be “true” to themselves and their audiences, and don’t rule out writing songs in Catalan. And that is because, they tell us, they do what and how they want.

Visit the Sweater website.

Primavera Club Festival switches on Barcelona

A characteristic feature of this festival, which came about as the winter version of Primavera Sound, has been to invite back bands who were a success at the May festival.

They’ve always said that the natural environment of any musician is a concert hall. Maybe that’s the reason why this year’s Primavera Club, the fourth, has opted to spread itself round the city’s main concert venues.

Apolo, Apolo [2], Bikini, Sidecar, Jamboree, Monasterio and La Nau are also Primavera Club venues where, between 9 and 13 December, about sixty groups will be appearing. You needn’t worry about its stages being spread out like this as lots of bands will be playing several times at different venues, so you won’t miss the ones you are interested in.

So, this year, there will be a chance to see again The Pastels, The Ladybug Transistor and Sr. Chinarro, among others. Jeffrey Lewis is just one of the artists on the bill who’ll be going down well right from the start. This comic illustrator, along with a band who have disappeared from the map, Moldy Peaches, is one of the most faithful representatives of the New York anti-folk scene.

The list of groups we can recommend is long: Port O’Brien, The Black Heart Procession, Cass McCombs, etc. But, above all, don’t miss the groups from over here.

Of course, besides neofolk guru Banhart, we can meet some old acquaintances at Primavera Club with new music projects. Such is the case with Alan Sparhawk, one half of the Low duo, who is playing here with the Retribution Gospel Choir, who have more guitars and make more noise than Low.

Another well-established musician is Kid Congo Powers, who has belonged to bands like The Gun Club, The Cramps, The Bad Seeds and Die Haut. He is coming to Primavera Club with a new band, The Pink Monkey Birds.

Primavera Club website | NN Hotels: www.nnhotels.com

11th Gospel Festival of Catalonia

It promises to be spectacular with the best performances in contemporary gospel, to judge by the choice on offer at the Catalonia Gospel Festival. The South African choir Soweto, the American choirs Georgia, Amen and Black Heritage, plus the ‘lady of gospel’ and soloist Bridget A. Bazile from New Orleans, are just some of the acts.

In addition, the Barcelona Gospel Institute choir, with its 200 members, has shown we too have our own home-grown enthusiasts of this highly spiritual style of music. All these choirs will be filling Catalonia, throughout this month, with an authentic Afro-American spirit.

One of the voices you’ll be able to savour will be that of the classically trained Bridget A. Bazile, who hails from New Orleans and puts her unique voice at the service of an equally unique tradition.

On Thursday 17, at the Palau de la Música, you can treat yourself to the impressive music of the South African choir, Soweto. You’ll be amazed by their explosion of rhythm, colours, strength and vitality. You’ll have the opportunity to experience the gospel you’d expect of this music genre, the kind performed by choirs and with the force of a whole continent behind them.

You’ll find yourself carried away by the authentic African legacy of Black Heritage, who pay tribute to the Afro-American musical tradition, from its origins in the plantations of the Deep South to its urban variations.

Concert ‘Amen Gospel Choir + The Brotherhood Singers’ | Date: 12/12/2009
Place: Gran Teatre del Liceu

Concert ‘Soweto Gospel Choir’ | Date: 17/12/2009
Place: Palau de la Música Catalana

Concert ‘Bridget A. Bazile Singers i la Coral de l’Institut Gospel Barcelona | Date: 23/12/2009
Place: L’Auditori de Barcelona

Festival Website: www.theproject.es  | NN Hotels: www.nnhotels.com

The Liceu Conservatory has officially inaugurated

Queen Sofia, the Liceu Conservatory’s honorary president since 1983, has officially inaugurated the Conservatory’s new facilities, which have already been in service for several months.

Barcelona’s Mayor, Jordi Hereu, also attended the inauguration of the building, located at Carrer Nou de la Rambla 88.

The new facilities of the Higher Conservatory of Music, with 10,000 m2 in surface area and an investment of twenty million euros, are located in the Raval neighbourhood, next to the Sant Pau Gardens and very close to the historic building on the Rambla.

The new building has five floors given over to academic activities, with 90 classrooms for each instrumental speciality, for classical, modern and jazz music alike.

The top floor houses the library, which is equipped with multimedia resources. The underground floors house professional cultural amenities, such as the auditorium.

Conservatori del Liceu -> Nou de la Rambla, 88 - Ciutat Vella

Source: www.bcn.es  |  NN Hotels: www.nnhotels.com

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