After two Christmases marked by the pandemic, the cultural offer this end of the year is exceptional, turning on all its lights and including some of the best exhibitions that can be seen in Europe today, such as that of the art dealer Kahnweiler at the Museu Picasso. And a circus and family Puccini created between the Liceu and the Barcelona City Council that will be in Plaza Catalunya until the 30th: Nadal's tower.
There will be no shortage of great numbers, from Serrat to the pianist Yuja Wang, from Handel's Messiah by the Versailles orchestra directed by Franco Fagioli, to the musical by Els Amics de les Arts. Passing by the theater of La Calòrica and that of Juan Diego Botto.
SONG
Serrat and the Zoo party
Joan Manuel Serrat's farewell to the stage is without a doubt the most attractive option on offer for live music in the coming weeks. The Noi del Poble Sec and the Palau Sant Jordi will be the stars of three unforgettable nights (December 20, 22 and 23). The current festivals continue to supply plenty of shrapnel: the Jazz festival offers Amazing Grace, a tribute to the memorable gospel album signed by Aretha Franklin half a century ago and offered by the Mississippi Mass Choir (20, Palau de la Música). Also intense, and within the De Cajón! cycle, was Hurricane Miguel Poveda (7, Liceu).
The Mil·lenni offers a heterogeneous menu with the Icelander Ólafur Arnalds and his mesmerizing mix of piano and electronics opening it this Saturday (Auditori del Fòrum). The range includes the tasting of La Mari de Chambao, more positive than ever and celebrating 20 years of career (27, Palau de la Música), and level flamenco, either with Estrella Morente (21, Santa Maria del Mar) or with Israel Fernández, together with the essential touch of Diego del Morao (29, Palau de la Música).
The more local scenes have tempting offers, starting with Ferran Palau and his captivating metaphysical pop, who temporarily says goodbye to live with a concert-party where he will give life to his last and very fruitful musical stage (17, Paral·lel 62). Also very suggestive is undoubtedly Joan Miquel Oliver, who this year has doubled with the return of Antònia Font, but on the 21st (Apolo) he will go solo, and with Da Souza as opening act.
Mishima, for his part, resumes his traditional Christmas concert in the Apolo room (23) and with his latest album L'aigua clara, the reason for the best reviews. And when it comes to talking about new airs, nothing better than Ginestà, which will be offered at Razzmatazz (28) Família
And two very different tour ends. On the one hand, the festive and vindictive one of the Valencians Zoo at the Palau Sant Jordi (10) and on the other the one that will be offered by Maika Makovski in the Curtcircuit cycle (27, Razzmatazz 2) and centered on her last and agitated album MKMK.
THEATER
La Calòrica is back
Barcelona's stages host shows for all tastes. In La Villarroel, Sergi Pompermayer's America premieres; a reflection on Barcelona's black past, directed by Julio Manrique. Oriol Pla's family returns with Travy, a family story of universal scope, this time in the Sala Beckett, where it also includes La gran farsa, by Santi Fondevila, with the suggestive subtitle Judges don't wear red buttons on their gowns. And Josep Maria Pou is El pare, by Florian Zeller, in Romea.
Only from 15 to 18/XII, Lina Lambert, Lurdes Barba and Imma Colomer offer the famous monologues Talking heads by Alan Bennett, at the TNC. And Juan Diego Botto remembers Lorca in A Moonless Night, with all the paper sold. Cristina Plazas will star in Himmelweg, one of Juan Mayorga's great works, at the Akadèmia theatre. And the Argentine Pablo Messiez presents The Will to Believe in the Lliure.
Attention, because La Calòrica returns, first at Zorrilla in Badalona and at Christmas in Borràs, with perhaps its best show: What are we talking about while we're not talking about all this shit. Nausicaa Bonnín takes on the role of Hedda Gabler, by Àlex Rigola, in Ibsen's classic in the Free. And La pell fina, the successful comedy by Carmen Marfà and Yago Alonso, returns to the Flyhard room.
MUSICALS
Classic and newly created
The latest to get on the bandwagon of this increasingly present genre in Barcelona are Els Amics de les Arts, who, with Marc Artigau and Minoria Absoluta, present Normal Parents, at the Poliorama. In the County, Jordi Bosch continues to star in the crazy adventures of the slave Pseudolus in Golfus de Roma, a great Sondheim directed by Daniel Anglès.
At the Apolo, the charm of Cristina Llorente gives life to Pretty Woman together with Roger Berruezo, with the invaluable help of Rubén Yuste and the music of Bryan Adams. At the Tivoli, a classic of the classics celebrates its 50th anniversary, Grease, with the adventures of Sandy, Danny and Rizzo. The tribute to Mecano is served in the Cúpula Arenas, with Cruz de navajas. And the sexiest musical, The hole X, has been installed in Port Vell for its tenth anniversary.
But there are also familiar musicals, such as the successful Bye bye monstre, by Dagoll Dagom and Dámaris Gelabert, at the Poliorama; or The Little Prince in a version by Marc Artigau, Manu Guix and Àngel Llàcer, in the Paral·lel 62 room.
CLASSIC
From 'Messiah' to Yuja Wang
Classical finds its natural space on Christmas dates with traditional pieces such as Händel's Messiah or Bach's Christmas Oratorio. In Barcelona, the first features the exceptional performance of the Orchester Royal de Versailles conducted by countertenor Franco Fagioli (Palau de la Música, on the 15th), without forgetting the participatory visit that will take place at L'Auditori (on the 23rd) with Vespres d'Arnadí and the Cor de Cambra de Granollers. Ibercamera (Palau, 13) is once again in charge of the second oratorio with the referential Windsbach Children's Choir.
Another Christmas must is offered by Jordi Savall (L'Auditori, 15) with the seclusion and beauty of the Te Deum and In Nativitatem Domini Canticum by Charpentier. And there will be more Bach this Sunday the 11th, with his Cantatas and Händel's Laudate pueri, in a concert organized at the Palau by the Fundació Salvat.
Another approach to the religiosity of these dates will be provided by the Ensemble O Vos Omnes and the Quartet Gerhard in L'Auditori (13) with The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross by Haydn. And even more unmissable if possible will be Beethoven's Missa Solemnis by the desired maestro Philippe Herreweghe with his Colegium Vocale Gent and the Orchester des Champs Elysées (Palau, 21).
That same night, later, the Auditorium will celebrate a Song of the Sibyl in the church of Santa Madrona. A work that will serve the Cathedral before the Misa del Gallo, with the Francesc Valls Choir directed by Pere Lluís Biosca and with Antoni Ros Marbà as guest composer.
In addition to the Palau, the Simfònica del Vallès will take its eventual program of dances and waltzes to the territory, as well as The Nutcracker (25 and 6 January) and its New Year's concert (1, 2 and 7). And it will be part of the Concert de Sant Esteve in the modernist room, whose exceptional guests this year are Els Amics de les Arts.
Otherwise, the Municipal Band will celebrate a New Year's Eve with Gershwin with Albert Guinovart on piano. In the middle of this Christmas canon, the concert of the charismatic Yuja Wang stands out in the BCN Classics cycle: the Concerto no. 1 by Rachmáninovjunto the Philharmonia Orchestra directed by Santtu-Matias Rouvali (day 14 in L’Auditori).
ART
Imprescindible Kahnweiler
Barcelona faces the end of the year with an exhibition offer that is reminiscent of the best times. Although the title may be a deterrent for those who have never heard of the character, Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler. Art dealer and publisher, the exhibition that has just opened at the Museu Picasso is worthy of being included in a list of the great exhibitions that can be seen right now in Europe.
A hundred works signed by some of the heavyweights of the avant-garde (Picasso, Braque, Léger, Masson, Klee, Gris...) that today are part of the Pompidou collections in Paris and through which you can follow the tour life of a fascinating gallery owner.
Once again Klee, now accompanied by four powerful women (Gabriele Münter, Emma Kuntz, Maruja Mallo and Sandra Knecht) will spend Christmas at the Fundació Miró.
La Pedrera will also celebrate the turn of the year with an excellent exhibition that encourages a meeting between the inhabitants of the Museum of Abstract Art of Cuenca (Tàpies, Millares, Antonio Saura, Antonio Lorenzo, Joan Hernández Pijuan) with international giants such as Dubuffet, Pollock, Lee Krasner, De Stäel or Rothko. From you to you and holding the look.
For photography lovers, one of its most prominent and singular figures, the African-American Carrie Mae Weems tries to answer the same question (“If you were given the chance to change history, what would you do?”) with a great retrospective at two venues: KBr and FotoColectania, and an audiovisual installation at Macba.
In this last museum, from next day 15 you can visit the new rearrangement of its collection, which is entitled Poetic Intention and the signature of its director Elvira Dyangani Ose. And yet another novelty at the MNAC and Tecla Sala, with Ferran Garcia Sevilla as the protagonist: in the first he will show the donation he has made to the museum and in the center of l'Hospitalet he will be the subject of a great retrospective.
Do not miss the exhibition that the CCCB dedicates to the new female comic book authors or the one that the CaixaForum brings to light the private collections of artists (Gods, Wizards and Wise Men).
OPERA
Puccini in Cirque du Soleil style
If the opera does not go to Mohammed... The Liceu and the Barcelona City Council co-produce La torre de Nadal, a Puccini à la Cirque du Soleil, a circus and opera show on a soundtrack based on the author's work of Madama Butterfly. The stage is directed by Lluís Danés and the musician Sergi Cuenca, with support from the Fundació Ferrer Salat and the Liceu Conservatory (Plaza Catalunya, from December 17 to 30, except December 24).
The city does not abandon the Puccinian spirit, because while the performances of Il trittico continue, the premiere (January 4) of the new Tosca at the Liceu is being prepared. Where the Dickens story also takes place, illustrated in an artisan way by the poetry of the sand by Borja González, from the Ytuquepintas company, with music by Albert Ginovart (11, 13 and 15).
DANCE
'Nutcracker' with star
The Ballet de Catalunya shows off its Nutcracker at the Teatre Principal in Terrassa (on the 21st) with the artistic direction of Elías García and with Ariele Gomes as the protagonist, the new star of the company, who comes from Julio Bocca's Ballet Sodre. And in the same town of Vallès, LaFACT Cultural brings this Saturday El Corsario by the Cuban company of Laura Alonso, daughter of the mythical Alicia Alonso, and then puts the PAR en Dansa students to dance another Nutcracker.
