"Check out the highlights on what's happening this week in Ben Jones’ guide" - You don't want to miss the undisputed kings of Cuban jazz - Milanés and Valdés - united for a tour of Spain behind the release of the new recording, Más Alla de Todo.

FESTIVALS

19th Barcelona Guitar Festival
Classical, jazz, blues and, of course, rock by leading international and Spanish musicians at venues all over town.

Until 8 June

For schedules, venue and prices, see: www.theproject.es

 

THEATRE

Espectres
Magda Puyo directs this ambitious play based on the works of Ibsen addressing free love, incest, criticism of the church and other themes which were taboo topics when first staged in Chicago in 1882. 

Until 22 June

Schedule: Tuesday through Friday, 9:00pm. Saturday, 6:30pm and 10pm. Sunday, 6:30pm
Price: EUR 27 

Teatre Romea
Hospital, 51
08001
93.301.55.04
________________________
Boris Godunov
The always edgy Catalan theatre troupe La Fura dels Baus updates Pushkin’s play about the 16th century Russian ruler by introducing the very modern theme of terrorism.

Until 11 May

Schedule: Wednesday and Friday, 8pm. Thursday, 5pm. Saturday, 5pm and 9:30pm. Sunday, 7pm
Price: EUR 13-23

Teatre Nacional de
Cataluña
Plaça de les Arts, 1
08013
93.306.57.00
________________________ 
 Enfermo Imaginario
The life of a hospitalised hypochondriac, obsessed with the need to be constantly surrounded by doctors, is complicated further by the presence of his apparently well-meaning daughter and the ailments of his hospital roommate in this comedy based on a work by Moliere. 

Until 1 June

Schedule: Wednesday, 9pm. Thursday, 6pm. Friday, 9pm. Saturday, 6:30pm and 10pm. Sunday, 6:30pm

Price: EUR 22-28

Teatre Condal
Avda. Paral-lel, 91
08004
93.442.31.32 
________________________
Mamma Mia!
Based on songs by that world-conquering 70’s band, Abba, this was the first musical using tunes from a pop group. Queen, Boy George, Rod Stewart and others have followed with mixed success.

Indefinite

Schedule: Wednesday, 8:30pm. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 6pm and 10pm. Sunday, 6pm
Price: EUR 33-70

Barcelona Teatre Musical
Avda. De la Guardia Urbana s/n
93.423.64.63

CINEMA

Stop-Loss (Ausente)
A decorated Iraq War hero, picking up the pieces of his life after returning to his Texas home, is torn between duty to country and loyalty to family and friends when the Army orders him back for another tour. 

Opens 9 May 

Directed by Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry”)
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish and Channing Tatum
________________________
La Antena
An entire city loses its voice and the sinister Mr. TV, who owns the only television station in town, sets out to subject all the citizens to his will. Filmed in black and white, this silent Argentine film wracked up a number of awards in international film festivals. 

Opens 9 May

Directed by Esteban Sapir
Starring: Alejandro Urdapilleta, Rafael Ferro and Florencia Raggi
________________________ 
La Duquesa de Langeais (Ne Touchez Pas la Hache)
Director Jacques Rivette’s adaptation of the Balzac tale
of a love story between a general and a duchess.

Opens 2 May

Starring: Jeanne Balibar and Guillaume Depardieu
________________________
Lars and the Real Girl
A shy young man living in a small town brings home his dream girl – an inflatable sex doll he bought on the Internet. His family thinks he’s nuts but the rest of the town goes along with his delusion. 

Opens 25 April

Directed by Craig Gillespie
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider 
________________________
3 Días (Before the Fall)
Antonio Banderas produced this award-winning film about how the residents of a small town in Andalusia react when they learn the world is going to end in 72 hours in a meteorite strike. 

Opens 25 April

Directed by F. Javier Gutierrez
Starring: Víctor Clavijo, Mariana Cordero and Eduard Fernandez
________________________
Rendition
After an Arab-American goes missing on his way back home to Washington, his American wife and a CIA analyst join forces to free him from a secret interrogation facility somewhere overseas.

Opens 18 April

Directed by Gavin Hood
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Alan Arkin
________________________
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
On a visit to the United States to visit his recently-divorced daughter, an elderly Chinese man becomes involved with an Iranian woman. Grand Prize winner at last year’s San Sebastian Film Festival.

Opens 18 April

Directed by Wayne Wang
Starring: Henry O, Faye Yu and Vida Ghahremani
________________________
The Band’s Visit
In this gentle comedy, an Egyptian police brass band gets lost on its way to a gig and ends up stuck in a small Israeli desert town where the musicians and locals either loathe one another or end up together in the sack.  

Opens 11 April  

Directed by Eran Kolirin
Starring: Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz and Saleh Bakri
________________________
Todos Estamos Invitados
One of the more intelligent films about the troubled Basque country with a university professor, played by the excellent José Coronado, threatened by ETA.  

Opens 11 April  

Directed by Manuel Gutierrez
Starring: Oscar Jaenada and Vanessa Incontrada  
________________________
The Savages
This dark, romantic comedy and family tragedy with deep psychological currents wowed American critics, not least thanks to the sterling performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney as estranged siblings who reunite to deal with their demented dad.  

Opens 4 April

Directed by Tamara Jenkins

______________________
Shine a Light
Two years after his ground-breaking documentary on Bob Dylan, director and passionate rock ‘n’ roll fan Martin Scorsese gives us his take on their Satanic Majesties, the Rolling Stones.

Opens 4 April 

________________________
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Director Julian Schnabel got an Oscar nomination for this true story of a Frenchman totally paralyzed by a stroke who tells his story to a very patient therapist through spelling out words by blinking one eye.

Opens 1 February

Starring: Mathieu Amalric and Emmanuelle Seigner
________________________
Juno
This year’s low-budget critical hit (with Oscar noms for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Screenplay) about a teenage unwed mother.

Opens 1 February

Directed by Jason Reitman
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera and Jennifer Garner

________________________
There Will be Blood

Ambition, religion and raw American capitalism in this tale of the early days of the California oil boom. Eight Oscar nominations including best film, best director and best actor.

Opens 15 February

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano and Ciaran Hinds
________________________

Ahlaam
One of the first post-Saddam films to be released in the West, this neo-realist drama tells the story of a patient in a psychiatric hospital which has been destroyed by the war.  

Opens 21 March

Directed by Mohammed al Daradji
Starring: Aseel Adel and Bashir al Majid

________________________ 
It’s a Free World…
Director Ken Loach explores immigration and labour exploitation in modern-day Britain. Paul Laverty’s script won the Best Screenplay Award at last year’s Venice Film Festival.

Starring: Kierston Wareing, Juliet Ellis and Leslaw Zurek
________________________
The Kite Runner
The film version of Khaled Hosseini’s best selling novel about  friendship, betrayal and redemption involving two Afghan boys living through the turbulence of the past decades. Spaniard Alberto Iglesias composed the Oscar-nominated score.

Opens 7 March

Directed by Marc Forster
Starring: Zekiria Ebrahimi and Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada
________________________
Films playing in Original Version:

To see films in their original language check out the following cinemas. Films marked 'VOS' are shown in the language the film was originally made in, with subtitles (usually in Spanish, or Catalan in Barcelona), while films marked 'VO' are shown in the original version and may or may not be subtitled.

Yelmo Icaria
Calle Salvador Espriú, 61
Ctro.Cial. El Centre de la Vila
Port Olimpic
(Nearest metro: Ciutadella)
Tel: 93.221.75.85 / 93.221.72.56
Ticket line: 902.22.09.22
Website: http://www.yelmocineplex.com/icaria_yelmo_cineplex.html

Renoir-Les Corts
Calle Eugeni d'Ors 12
(nearest metro Les Corts)
Tel: 93.490.55.10
Website: http://www.cinesrenoir.com/index.php

Renoir Floridablanca
Floridablanca, 135, Eiixample
(nearest metro Sant Antoni or Universitat)
Tel: 93.426.33.37
Website: http://www.cinesrenoir.com/index.php

Verdi
Calle Verdi 32, Gracia
(nearest metro Fontana)
Tel: 93.238.79.90

FilmoTeca de Catalunya
Avda. de Sarria 33, Eixample
(nearest metro Hospital Clinic)
Tel: 93.410.75.90
Website: http://cultura.gencat.es/filmo/

Casablanca-Kaplan
Passeig de Gràcia, 115, Gràcia
(nearest metro Diagonal)
Tel: 93.218.43.45

Méliès
Villarroel, 102, Eixample
Tel: 93.451.00.51

Boliche
Av. Diagonal, 508-10, Sarrià
(nearest metro Diagonal)
Tel: 93.218.17.88

MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITIONS

Bosco Sodi
Works inspired during his recent sojourn in Japan by this Mexican artist who usually divides his time between Barcelona, Berlin and Mexico City.  

Until 15 June

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-8pm, Sunday, 10am-2pm
Price: TBA

Casa Asia
Palau Baró de Cuadras
Av. Diagonal, 373
08008
93.238.73.37
________________________
Mujeres. Los Caminos de la Libertad
More than 300 items including posters, photos, books and documents tracing the struggle of women for their rights and freedoms.  A special section, Feminismos en Cataluña, highlights the women’s movement in Catalonia at the beginning of the 20th century. 

Until 20 July 

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-7pm. Sunday, 10am-2:30pm
Price: EUR 3 

Museu de Historia de Cataluña
Plaza de Pau Vila, 3
08003
93.225.47.00
________________________
Regina Giménez
The Galeria Trama’s third exhibition by this award-winning young Barcelona artist whose latest work features photographic images mounted on aluminium.

Until 20 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30am-2pm and 4:30pm-8:30pm
Price: Free

Galeria Trama
Petritxol, 8
08002
93.317.48.77
________________________
Magnum. 10 Secuencias
Works by ten photographers of the Magnum agency (Gueorgui Pinkhassov, Harry Gruyaert and others) illustrating the influence of cinema on their imaginations and perceptions.  

Until 7 September

Schedule: Tuesday through Sunday, 11am-8pm
Price: EUR 4.40

Centro de Cultura Contemporanea de Barcelona
Montealegre, 5
08001
93.306.41.00
________________________
Jonathan Meese
The noted contemporary German artist presents a show of paintings, sculptures and performance art exploring personal identity as part of the Euphoria: Cases of Extreme Optimism series at the CaixaForum.

Until 8 June

Schedule: Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-8pm
Price: Free
Caixaforum
Avda. Marqués de Comillas, 6-8
08038
93.476.86.00
________________________ 
Albert Watson
An exhibition of colour and black-and-white prints by the Scottish-born, New York-based photographer known for his work of stunning visual power and unique expression.

Until 16 June

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 10am-2pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday, 11pm-2pm
Price: Free

Galeria Hartmann
Santa Teresa, 8
08012
93.415.95.56
________________________ 
Tomoko Sawada
In the fourth of a series of exhibitions by young Japanese artists, Sawada’s fanciful photos of schoolgirls and matrons from different social classes illustrate the situation of modern Japanese women. 

Until 18 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-7pm. Thursday, 10am-9:30pm. Sunday, 10am-2:30pm.
Price: EUR 7.20

Fundación Joan Miro
Parque de Montjuic
08038
93.443.94.70 
_______________________  
Liu Guangyun
Guangyun, the Chinese mixed-media artist trained in Beijing but who now spends most of his time in Euope, currently favours works featuring shiny photos of models’ faces festooned with silk blossoms.

Until 17 May

Schedule: Monday through Saturday, 11am-2:30pm and 5pm-9pm.
Price: Free

N2 Galería
Enric Granados, 21
08008
93.452.05.92
_______________________
Nomeda & Gediminas Urbonas
Five projects by the Lithuanian installation artists dating from 2000 exploring the conflicts and contradictions of post-Soviet societies adjusting to capitalism.

Until  15 June

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 11am-7:30pm. Saturday, 10am-8pm. Sunday, 10am-3pm
Price: EUR 6

MACBA
Plaza de los Angeles, 1
08001
93.412.08.10

_______________________
El Románico y el Mediterráneo
Some 100 pieces on loan from museums in Italy, France, Britain and the U.S. form the core of this exhibition focusing on art from the Mediterranean of the 12th century.

Until 18 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-7pm. Sunday, 10am-2:30pm
Price: EUR 6

Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña
Parque de Montjuic
Palacio Nacional
08038
93.622.03.60

_______________________
Alice Creischer: Obras y Colaboraciones
Installation art by the German whose works comment on the relation between politics, economics and culture. Two of her main pieces at this exhibition were inspired by a Gustave Corbet painting and a trip to India.

Until 18 May

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 11am-7:30pm. Saturday, 10am-8pm. Sunday, 10am-3pm. Closed Tuesday
Price: EUR 6

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona (MACBA)
Plaza de los Angeles, 1
93.412.08.10

________________________  
Post-It. Ciudades Ocasionales
Urban spaces converted into other uses such as an abandoned industrial estate now used as an illegal racetrack, university buildings transformed into an impromptu bordello and the whole squatter phenomenon are just some examples represented in this show commenting on modern city life.

Until 25 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Sunday, 11am-8pm.
Price: EUR 4.40

Centro de Cultura Contemporanea de Barcelona
Montealegre, 5
08001
93.306.41.00
________________________  
Arte Contemporáneo Chino de la Colección Sigg
Over a span of two decades from 1986 to 2006, Swiss diplomat Uli Sigg collected modern Chinese art just as the country was undergoing enormous political and economic change. On display here are 50 works reflecting the tug-of-war between socialism and nascent capitalism.

Until 25 May

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-7pm. Thursday, 10am-9:30pm. Sunday, 10am-2:30pm.
Price: EUR 7.20

Fundación Joan Miro
Parque de Montjuic
93.443.94.70

 

CONCERTS

Raimundo Amador
Once considered one of the finest young flamenco guitarists of his generation, over the years Amador has broadened his musical skills and now is a master of flamenco fusion drawing on blues, hip hop, rock and rap influences. 

9 May 

Schedule: 8:30pm
Price: EUR 24

Sala Apolo
Nou de Rambla, 111-113
08004
93.441.40.01
________________________
Pablo Milanés & Chucho Valdés
With Milanés at the microphone and Valdés on piano, the undisputed kings of Cuban jazz unite for a tour of Spain behind the release of the new recording, Más Alla de Todo. Not to be missed.

12 May

Schedule: 8pm
Price:  EUR 38-68

Palau de la Música Catalana
Sant Francesc de Paula, 2
08003
93.295.72.00

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

Aquarium de Barcelona
Sharks, manta rays, piranhas, alligators and almost every other denizen of the fresh and salt water deep at one of Europe’s biggest and best aquariums. Guided tours and weekend activities for children are also on offer.  

Schedule: Daily, 9:30am-9:00pm. Extended hours in summer.
Price: Adults, EUR 16. Children 4-12, EUR 11

Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell, s/n
08039
93.221.74.74
________________________
El Zoo D’en Pitus
A group of children enter a world of fantasy through reading when they agree to help a bookshop owner avoid having to close down his business. For children five and over.

Until 25 May

Schedule: Sunday, 12:30pm
Price: EUR 8-12

Teatre Poliorama
La Rambla, 115
08001
93.371.75.99
________________________
Gel Skating Club
Summer is on its way and with temperatures rising, a few hours on the ice is a great way to beat the heat. This skating rink offers daily sessions, lessons and rentals.

Schedule: Monday through Tuesday, 10:30am-1:30pm. Wednesday through Friday, 10:30am-1:30pm and 5pm-9pm. Weekends: 10:30am-2pm and 4:30pm-9pm. Extended hours beginning in May
Price: Non-skaters, EUR 1 Without skates, EUR 13.70. With skates, EUR 9.50

Roger de Flor, 168
08013
93.245.28.00
www.skatingclub.cat
________________________

IMAX 3-D
Giant screen cinema at its best and the perfect place to finish a post-Sunday lunch stroll on the Rambla and along the waterfront. Two new films are now showing: Los Alpes and Profundidades Marinas 3-D.

Schedule: Open daily with showings throughout the day.
Price: EUR 10

Imax
Moll d’Espanya
93.225.11.11
________________________
Cataluña en Minatura

Said to be the largest of its kind in the world, this 25,000 square metre complex boasts 150 miniaturised monuments from around Catalonia. Kids delight in pointing out those they know such as  Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia cathedral and other emblematic edifices. A train ride, picnic areas and restaurants make it the ideal spot for a day out with the family.

Open all year

Schedule: Daily, 10am-7pm
Price: Adults, EUR 10. Children, EUR 7

Can Balasch de Baix, s/n
Torrelles de Llobregat
08629
93.689.09.60

 

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