PERFORMING ARTS AND MUSIC VENUES
1. Palau de la Música Catalana
Domenèch i Montaner’s Modernista gem regularly serves up the best in jazz and classical music (see Palau de la Música Catalana). It has lost some of its prestige to L’Auditori, but it still hosts some performances for Barcelona’s Guitar Festival and attracts visiting musicians.
Palau de la Música Catalana
2. El Molino
Vila i Vila 99 (Av Paral·lel) • 93 205 51 11 • Adm • www.elmolinobcn.com
El Molino has been a musical theatre-bar since 1907. It hosts live music, cabaret shows, flamenco and tango performances. Book through the website.
3. Teatre Grec
The most atmospheric and magical of all Barcelona’s venues, this open-air amphitheatre, set in thick, verdant forest, makes an incredible setting for ballet, music or theatre. Originally a quarry, it was converted in 1929 in preparation for the International Exhibition. It is open daily except during the summertime El Grec arts festival.
4. L’Auditori
C/Lepant 150 • 93 247 93 00
Located near the Teatre Nacional, this large auditorium is home to the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona and also houses the Museum of Music. Acoustics and visibility are excellent. In addition to classical music, it hosts regular jazz concerts.
5. Gran Teatre del Liceu
La Rambla • 93 485 99 00 • Guided tours in English available daily, times vary • Adm
Phoenix-like, the Liceu has risen from the ashes of two devastating fires since its inauguration in 1847. Now one of the greatest opera houses in Europe, it is known for sterling performances by home-grown talent including one of the famed “three tenors”, José Carreras.
Gran Teatre del Liceu
6. Harlem Jazz Club
The legendary Harlem Jazz Club in the Barrí Gòtic is one of the longest surviving jazz and blues clubs in Barcelona. As well as offering great artistes, the admission charge usually includes a drink, and some shows are free.
Saxophonist at the Harlem Jazz Club
7. Mercat de les Flors
C/Lleida 59 • 93 256 26 00 • www.mercatflors.cat
The venue of choice for dance and performance theatre groups such as La Fura dels Baus and Comediants, whose incredible mixture of circus and drama is easily accessible to non-Catalan speakers.
8. Razzmatazz
This is one of the city’s most famous venues (see Razzmatazz). Hosting concerts several nights a week, the club’s five areas offer a wide range of musical styles.
Vampire Weekend at Razzmatazz
9. Sala Apolo
C/Nou de la Rambla 113 • 93 441 40 01 • www.sala-apolo.com
An old dance hall with velvet-covered balconies and panelled bars, this place has reinvented itself as one of Barcelona’s leading nightclubs (see Sala Apolo). It attracts the latest in music, from indie, garage and pop rock (Mondays), to reggae, soul, world music and dubstep (Thursdays).
10. JazzSí Club – Taller de Musics
Requesens 2 • 93 329 00 20 • Adm • www.tallerdemusics.com/jazzsi-club
Connected to the local music school, the JazzSí Club offers music workshops, lessons as well as daily concerts. Jazz, Cuban, flamenco or rock performances take place in the small, split-level venue between 7:30 (6:30 on Sun) and 9pm. Dinner is available from Monday to Friday.
TOP 10 VERSIÓN ORIGINAL CINEMAS AND FESTIVALS
1. Filmoteca
The Catalan government’s film and media archive and cinema that has three VO screenings daily.
Interior of the Filmoteca cinema
3. Icària Yelmo Cineplex
C/Salvador Espriu 61 • 90 222 09 22 • www.yelmocines.es
With 15 screens, this cineplex shows VO films, many of them for children.
4. Festival de Cine Documental Musical In-Edit
This international festival celebrates music and film.
5. Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya
Sitges • sitgesfilmfestival.com
A festival dedicated to VO fantasy films.
6. Méliès Cinemes
C/Villarroel 102 • 93 451 00 51 • www.meliescinemes.com
Two-screen cinema in the city’s heart.
7. Cinemes Texas
C/Bailen 205 • 93 348 47 70 • www.cinemestexas.cat
A modern cinema that shows VO films.
8. Sala Phenomena Experience
C/Sant Antoni Maria Claret 168 • www.phenomena-experience.com
State-of-the-art cinema, one of the largest in Spain, for VO films.
9. Renoir Floridablanca
C/Floridablanca 135 • 93 228 93 93
Vintage projectors are on display at this theatre screening international films.
10. Sala Montjuïc
This outdoor cinema near the castle shows cult films in summer.
