Page 197 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

ENTER T AINMENT IN BARCEL ONA  195

for an evening production
remains by far the best way
to experience the ambience.
Modern, but no less
important as a shrine to the
Catalan arts scene, L’Auditori de
Barcelona was built to accom-
modate growing demands for
better facilities and to attract
ever greater numbers of world-
class musicians. It began
primarily as a place for classical
The façade of the modern Teatre Nacional de Catalunya concerts and orchestral recitals,
but has since begun to embrace
gargantuan theatre where of the great artists of the giants of jazz, pop and rock.
high-quality productions, dance 20th century were locals, It is also worth keeping
and musical recitals by Catalan, including the celebrated abreast of regular choral music
Spanish and international stars cellist Pau Casals and that is performed at the city’s
are held. The Teatre Poliorama opera singers José Carreras churches and cathedrals. Most
on La Rambla, meanwhile, is and Montserrat Caballé. notable among these are the
known more for musicals, The city of Barcelona is also Església Santa Maria del Pi,
occasional operas and home to some of the most the main cathedral on Plaça
contemporary flamenco spectacular venues in the del Pi, and the Basílica Santa
performances. The Teatre Apolo world, including the glamorous, Maria del Mar, particularly
is good for big-bang musicals gilded Gran Teatre del Liceu, around Christmas and Easter.
such as Queen’s We Will Rock which first opened its doors
You and ABBA’s Mamma Mia! in 1847. The opera house has
For serious theatre-lovers, the been a continuing beacon of
Teatre Nacional de Catalunya Catalan arts for more than 150
(TNC) is an impo s ing, columned years, with a rich and dramatic
affair designed by the Catalan history of fire and bomb attacks.
architect Ricard Bofill, with It burned down for the third
state-of-the-art facilities and time in 1994, but careful
a weighty line-up of Spanish renovations have restored it
and Catalan directors. Good to its former glory. Despite its
for avant-garde performances, misfortunes, it has sustained
contemporary dance and a stellar line-up of the greatest
music is the Mercat de les composers in the world.
Flors, a converted flower market Among them are Puccini and
in the Montjuïc area that is Tchaikovsky, as well as Catalan
known as Barcelona’s “City of composers such as Felip Pedrell,
Theatre”. This is the same part of Vives and Enric Granados. Packed house at the gigantic Nou
town that contains Barcelona’s Sergei Diaghilev’s Russian Camp stadium
drama school and the Teatre ballets were also staged here. Sports
Lliure, home to the most The whimsical fancy of the
prestigious Catalan-language Palau de la Música Catalana The undoubted kings of
theatre company. is another of Barcelona’s sport in Catalonia are FC
Modern dance has always architectural triumphs (see Barcelona, known locally as
been popular in Barcelona and p156). A jewel-bright vision Barça. They have the largest
performances can often be by the Modernista master football stadium in Europe,
caught at the city’s main theatres. Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Camp Nou (see p180), and
The Teatre Victòria on Avinguda this sublime concert hall has a fanatical following.
del Paral.lel is good for ballet a dedicated audience, and Tickets for Barça home matches
and more classical dance performers who vie to play in the national league (La Liga),
productions, as is the Gran here. This is also the main the King’s Cup (Copa del Rey)
Teatre del Liceu opera house. venue for the city’s jazz and and Champions League can be
guitar festivals, as well as purchased at the FC Barcelona
national and international ticket offices (in person or by
Opera and symphony orchestras. telephone) or, perhaps most
Classical Music
Both venues, the Gran Teatre conveniently, they can be
Opera and classical music del Liceu and Palau de la Música bought online through the
are loved by Catalans who Catalana, can be visited on club website or Ticketmaster.
lap it up with near-religious interesting daytime guided Barcelona also has a high-
reverence. Indeed, many tours, but booking tickets ranking basketball team.

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