Page 196 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

194  BARCEL ONA

ENTERTAINMENT IN
BARCELONA

Barcelona has one of the most colourful around the city. Street performances you may
and alternative live arts scenes in Europe, stumble upon range from the human statues
offering a variety of entertainment, from the on La Rambla to excellent classical, ragtime
spectacular Modernista masterpiece the Palau and jazz buskers in the squares. In addition,
de la Música and the gilded Liceu opera house, there are a series of weekend-long musical and
to small independent theatres hosting obscure arts fiestas that run throughout the year, many
Catalan comedies and dark Spanish dramas. of which now attract international performers
But there’s also much to see simply by walking from all over Europe and beyond.

a wide variety of concerts to Spanish shows are well worth
choose from during the Festa seeing, regardless of language
de la Mercè, held in September. constraints. There are some
The Festival del Sónar, which good independent theatre
takes place in June, has become groups, such as Els Comediants
Europe’s biggest electronic and La Cubana. They offer a
music festival, drawing thrilling mélange of theatre,
musicians from around the music, mime and elements
world. The Música als Parcs, from traditional Mediter ranean
held in June and July, fiestas. Also staged at the tiny
presents classical music Cafè-Teatre LLantiol in El Raval
in serene surroundings. is a weekly repertoire of
The simplest way to get alternative shows, comedy,
theatre and concert tickets is magic and other off-the-cuff
to buy them at the box office, perfor mances designed to
although tickets for many attract a mixed crowd, from
The magnificent interior of the Palau de la theatres can also be bought the city’s growing expatriate
Música Catalana from branches of Catalunya commu nity to local arts lovers.
Caixa and La Caixa savings banks, Similarly, the L’Antic Teatre in
Entertainment Guides
or online through Ticketmaster. La Ribera is a laid-back cultural
The most complete guide to Tickets for the Grec festival are centre and bar with a scruffy,
what’s going on each week sold at tourist offices and at but pleasant, summer roof-
in Barcelona is the Catalan- the Palau de la Virreina. terrace and a small restau rant.
language Time Out, out every It hosts a number of alternative
Thursday. This guide also production companies and also
includes cinema listings. The Theatre and Dance shows films outside on the
Friday La Vanguardia features Most theatre in Barcelona terrace throughout the summer.
the entertainment supplement is performed in Catalan and La Rambla and Paral.lel are
Què Fem? Barcel ona’s free English-language productions the main hubs of the city’s
English-language magazine, are still in short supply. bigger and more mainstream
Metropolitan, also offers However, many Catalan and theatres. The Teatre Tívoli is a
details of cultural events
going on in town.

Festivals and Tickets
Theatre and concert seasons
for the main venues run from
September to June, with limited
programmes at other times.
The city’s varied menu of
entertainment reflects its rich,
multicultural artistic heritage.
In summer, the city hosts the
Grec Festival de Barcelona,
a showcase of international
music, theatre and dance, held
at open-air venues. There is also Outrageous stage show at one of Barcelona’s many clubs

194-195_EW_Spain.indd 194 26/09/17 11:01 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
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Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm