For some, the image of an ideal summer holiday is an infinity pool and a drink in hand. For many others, however, the best way to enjoy the summer is with a package of tickets to attend a whole series of concerts, recitals or ballets, perhaps to let yourself be transported by all the new ideas with which festival programmers will surprise you. In Spain, the summer period sees the largest number of festivals, including many of the most important. Often, the motivation for organising a festival is to bring music to places that do not have stable programmes over the whole year, or even to areas from which it is difficult to access concerts regularly at all. So, from Cádiz to the Pyrenees, Spain is dotted with interesting musical events for different tastes. Here is a selection of some of those taking place from July to mid-autumn.
Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada
June–July
With the Granada Festival, which starts in early June and runs until mid-July, the city takes on a special splendour. The programme fills the Alhambra as well as some of the city’s most beautiful palaces and churches. The main stage is in the Palacio de Carlos V and the best Spanish and European orchestras perform there, including the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (with Falla and Stravinsky). In the gardens of the Generalife or the Patio de los Arrayanes, respectively, you can catch dance and musical performances by some of the most outstanding soloists of the moment.
With room in the programme of more than 100 concerts, the festival includes flamenco at its most authentic, jazz, Lieder and chamber music, as well as cycles and individual offerings: this year Paul Lewis performs Schubert’s sonatas and Benjamin Alard interprets Falla on the harpsichord, while Israel Galván dances. The festival is democratised through Festival Extensión (FEX), which displays a wide and varied activity in the streets, courtyards, theatres and squares of the eight districts of Granada and a dozen municipalities of the province, all of them with free and open access.
Moving towards the north coast of the peninsula and further into summer (which is usually quite pleasant and even humid in this area), you arrive at the San Sebastian Musical Fortnight and the Santander International Festival. Both take place during the month of August and even have some music in common – but each has its own identity, marked both by the history of the festival itself and by its surroundings.
Festival Internacional de Santander
August
The main concerts, recitals and dance performances take place at the Palacio de Festivales. The magnificent Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana opens this year's edition. Sondra Radvanosky will give a recital conducted by Riccardo Frizza. The Bach Collegium Japan brings JS Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra will perform works by Mozart and JS Bach. Maria João Pires will be performing. The Antonio Gades Company will perform their emblematic flamenco shows Bodas de sangre and Suite flamenca. But the setting is just as attractive as the programming: under the name Historic Settings, numerous early music concerts will be held in different towns in the region. Santander is located in a unique natural and scenic setting and the bay of Santander is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. So a trip to hear the Accademia del Piaccere or La Spagna in Noja, Cantoría in Miera or the Seville Baroque Orchestra in San Vicente de la Barquera is well worthwhile.
Quincena Musical de San Sebastián
August
Although its name translates as “San Sebastian Musical Fortnight”, the festival actually lasts a month, with around 80 concerts. Where Santander boasts an enviable landscape, San Sebastian not only has the beautiful beach that borders the city but is also a first-rate foodie destination. Thus, the diversity of musical offerings is topped off with gastronomic experiences ranging from simple (or sophisticated) street food all the way to Michelin stars. The festival now caters to an increasingly diverse audience, so in addition to the main concerts in the Kursaal (Budapest Festival Orchestra or Filarmonica della Scala), there is contemporary music, an extensive organ cycle, a children's programme, a flamenco show and dance with, among others, the Malpelo Company and Compagnie Käfig. And that's not to mention that this year's edition includes opera, with a new production of Bizet's Carmen conducted by José Miguel Pérez-Sierra and staged by Emilio López.
Santa Catalina Classics
June–November
And for something completely different: here’s a festival that takes place in the middle of the ocean. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the historic Santa Catalina Hotel hosts a concert cycle in their lush gardens, with some of the most important figures of the international scene, open to both hotel guests and visitors, with the intention of keeping the hotel's links to culture. This year the festival kicked off with an inaugural gala with Jonas Kaufmann and Anita Rachvelishvili, accompanied by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, and lasts until November. There are talks on music, chamber music with Alban Gerhardt and Steven Osborne and an event which combines, piano, quartet and wine tasting.
Festival Castell de Peralada
July–August
In the heart of l’Empordà (Girona) at the north-eastern tip of the peninsula, visit a medieval castle – or rather the traces that remain after the passing of the centuries. The castle of Peralada, originally from the 14th century, is now a set of artistic attractions that make for a great visit: there are French-style gardens, a glass museum, a wine museum and a unique library (which, among other jewels, has 1,000 editions of Don Quixote). The Castell de Peralada Festival runs from mid-July to mid-August, with concerts taking place inside the castle and in the open air, as well as in the in the Carmen Church. As usual, it is characterised by recitals, solo concerts, dance and some original events that are somewhat different from the usual classical music offerings, which this year include a very elaborate programme constructed around the sound universe of film director Pedro Almodóvar.
Tenor Piotr Beczała opens this year’s edition, while pianist Yuja Wang takes the stage in August; the programme also features top opera stars Anna Pirozzi, Sonia Yoncheva and Ismael Jordi. The unsurpassable Jordi Savall presents a viola da gamba recital with Renaissance music. Laudably, the festival sets itself the valuable task of mission of commissioning and premiering a production each year (usually in co-production with other theatres). This year, it will be Don Juan no existe on 8th August, with music by Helena Cánovas, libretto by Alberto Iglesias, stage direction by Bárbara Lluch and musical direction by Jhoanna Sierralta.
Festival Bachcelona
July
In Spain, the word festival can mean as many different offerings are there are tastes or trends in enjoying music. The Bachcelona Festival is a unique concept that offers different ways of approaching the music of Johann Sebastian Bach throughout the year, from cantata cycle to immersions with jazz or music from different parts of the world, choreographic explorations or in conversation with other art forms such as cinema. It is completed with interactive activities for children and informative talks. The design of the activities takes advantage of existing spaces and resources and includes some of the most knowledgeable experts on the German composer, as well as special programmes created for the festival.
Festival de la Guitarra de Córdoba
July
The festival scene wouldn’t be complete without a space dedicated to the guitar. The Cordoba Guitar Festival is a benchmark, a special showcase for the instrument in its many different genres. To give a few examples of how the festival's programme is constructed this year: there are Anabel Montesinos and Rafael Aguirre with the most classical repertoire, the incomparable Antonio Rey on flamenco guitar, the jazz of Bill Frisell, the real Brazilian deal of Egberto Gismonti, the band Europe or the group Calexico. An added value is the educational programme which, in parallel to the concerts, is run by some of the artists on the bill. This year’s edition also celebrates the figure of the painter Julio Romero de Torres and his relationship with an instrument that was very important in his life and work.
Festival de Música Renacentista y Barroca de Vélez-Blanco
July
In the far south of the country, in the middle of the mountains of the province of Almeria and next to a natural park, stands a beautiful village full of history. Archaeological remains, the passage of the Muslims, Renaissance and Baroque buildings make it a very rich place. A mighty castle, originally a Muslim citadel, dominates the village from above. The Festival takes place in the second half of July and uses the Baroque or Renaissance spaces as stages. The programme, courses and conferences are designed in an integrated manner: that is to say, the composers and works are all chosen to be on themes related to the other activities. You can find established groups such as Música Ficta or Al Ayre Español, together with younger ones such as Egeria or Opera Omnia.
Festival de Música Española de Cádiz Manuel de Falla
November
The festival is held in November to coincide with the date of birth of Cádiz’s favourite musical son Manuel de Falla, and focuses on Spanish composers and performers. The programme revolves around premieres of new works and the recovery of musical heritage, thus representing a meeting point in which to look both backwards and forwards in the composition and performance of Spanish music and some of its influences. It's an eclectic programme that combines baroque, premieres, flamenco, jazz and even hip hop. The didactic and educational section is also very important, with interesting events for children and composition or analysis courses given by important personalities.
Música en Segura
May & November
In one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Segura de la Sierra (half way between Seville and Valencia), this “truly rural” festival takes place in spring and autumn. The music and the audiences are woven into the area with all its peculiarities; the aim is to enrich all the senses. Musical walks, concerts with the sunset as a backdrop or sessions with gastronomic tasting are proposed. The programme includes chamber music, recitals, early music, traditional music, jazz and flamenco. These are unique projects designed for the idiosyncracy of this festival, which is replete with a deep respect and affection both for music and for the environment.
This selection is just a sample of the numerous offerings in Spain, especially in summer. Whether you want to satisfy your curiosity about a genre of music, a particular artist or ensemble, or you want to experience the intensity of being able to enjoy music while taking advantage of this more relaxed period, there is sure to be a festival that meets your expectations. And who knows – maybe there’s even a swimming pool nearby.
See all listings and reviews of events in Spain.
Translated from Spanish by David Karlin.
