Catalonia - Art and Culture 2018

For three days in June, the Sónar festival in Bar- celona plays electronic and progressive musics from around the world. Thousands of visitors (52% foreign) come every year. It started in 1994 and today, Sónar is internationally recognised, offering additional festivals in Reykjavík, Hong Kong and Stockholm. Its success brought forth the appearance of other musical performances. This is the case for the Barcelona Festival Primavera Sound , which Summer music festivals Not just one, but a thousand summer songs of various styles can be heard at a plethora of festivals.

© marc castellet

© marc castellet

went for independent and alternative sounds and triumphed. Today, with headliners from the top of the pop and rock charts, this festival fills a giant complex in late May and early June on the outskirts of the city, in the Parc del Fòrum. More than 50,000 visitors a day have filled the com- plex in recent years. Over half came from other countries. music in SEA and MOUNTAIN The Barcelona calendar includes many other events, such as the Cruïlla festival , an eclectic Mas i Mas Festival , events that play electronic dance music, like the Barcelona Beach Festival or events dedicated to renowned artists, such as the Festival de Pedralbes . The festival circuit in Catalonia grows with each year and covers all styles: from the very Mediterranean and ecological Vida Festival , in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Costa Barcelona), to Canet Rock in Canet de Mar (Costa Barcelona). The Costa Brava also hosts important events such as the Festival Castell de Perelada ; the Festival In-

ternacional de Música de Cadaqués , which plays styles ranging from pop and rock to jazz; the Festival de la Porta Ferrada of Sant Feliu de Guíxols; or the Festival de Cap Roig , in Calella de Palafrugell, with top artists from the interna- tional pop, rock and jazz circuits. One of the most outstanding classical music festivals is the Festi- val Internacional de Música Costa Daurada – Salou , with stages in Torredembarra, Altafulla, Creixell, Roda de Berà, Cambrils and Salou. The ‘ Schubertíada’ (Schubert festival) in Vi- labertran (Girona), is another summer event. Though it is located far from the coast, the most curious music festival in Catalonia, the Festival Gong, is held in the summer in the caves of Col- lbató deep in the heart of Montserrat mountain. At all of these attractions you can eat (either at a food stand or sitting at a high-scale restaurant), drink, or even shop.

The festival cruïlla in barcelona. an evening concert in cap roig.

OPENING OF SÓNAR FESTIVAL IN 2011.

Festival of Ancient Pyrenees Music

A high quality, top-notch programme is the best way to describe the Festival de Música Antiga dels Pirineus (FeMAP). This festival is the result of the work of several villages in the Catalan Pyrenees to bring ancient music and the area’s rich architec- tural heritage together. Special emphasis is placed on buildings from the Romanesque period. FeMAP has drawn from the inheritance of the Joan Brudieu International Music Festival, which held its last edition in the Seu d’Urgell in 2010. FeMAP promotes the ensembles of Catalonia and restores and promotes the Catalan musical heritage by holding events in locations like the cloisters of Santa Maria d’Urgell.

120.000 VISITORS COME TO THE THREE-DAY SONAR FESTIVAL

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For more information www.femap.cat

© marc castellet

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