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While big names from the international scene will be on hand including Amos Gitaï, Jeanne Moreau, Keith Jarret, Khaled and Vinicio Capossela, the Grec won't be ignoring names from the national scene, with Calixto Bieto, Eusebio Poncela, José Sanchis Sinisterra, Mayte Martin and Mala Rodriguez & Refree.
There’s really no excuse this summer not to get to at least one of the 66 events that make up the Festival de Barcelona, AKA the Grec, named for the Teatre Grec, a classical-style amphitheatre on Montjuïc and the locale for some of this annual extravaganza’s principal events. The six-week festival has a 90-page programme to accompany it, so to help you decide what to see, we’ve chosen a selection of items suitable for different tastes. For other ideas, check the slideshow.
IF YOU ENJOY OUTDOOR CONCERTS
Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place. With a main venue that is completely open to the elements, the very spirit of the Grec is to savour music in open-air surroundings. Big guns appearing at the Teatre Grec include Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Simone and Lizz Wright in a tribute to the iconic Nina Simone (12th, €25-48). Alternatively, head to the Plaça del Rei where acts such as US double bass player Esperanza Spalding (13th, €25-30) and the group Cobla Sant Jordi, who give contemporary interpretations of traditional Catalan music (23rd, €12), will perform in the heart of the Gothic quarter. Another space that will be hosting al fresco music is the CaixaForum’s Pati Anglès as part of its late-night opening every Wednesday in July.
IF YOU PREFER NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Dance is always well-represented at the Grec and this year is no exception. With Saddler’s Wells producing and Alexander McQueen designing the outfits, the most high-profile choreography will be Eonnagata by Sylvie Guillem, Robert Lepage and Russell Maliphant; it combines French history, traditional Japanese theatre and the collective experience of the three co-creators (15th to 18th, Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, €35-40). More down-to-earth, but equally creative is the Dies de Dansa—four days of free dance shows in Barcelona as well as Mataró, Sitges and Sabadell. Here, the main venue is the CCCB: from the 10th to 12th, it will host two hours of choreography from around the world accompanied by a bar, chill-out area and video screenings. Finally, Les dones i Shakespeare is a new take on the work of the bard. The solo performances focus on four of his heroines, including Ophelia (Hamlet) and Katharina (The Taming of the Shrew) (15th to 26th, Sala Muntaner, €18).
6/15/09 9:48 AM
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