Ciutat Flamenco 2019

A Spanish guitar, hands clapping and drumming, passionate voices and the sound of the flamenco dancer stomping on the stage floor are all you need to give you goosebumps of delight. Get ready for a journey of intense emotions because from May 16 to 31 the Ciutat Flamenco festival is back with its 26th edition, and it's set to be spectacular. For 11 days, big names step onto various stages around Barcelona to make flamenco the star of the city.

The festival bears witness to the presentation of four new albums, among them two making their debut in Catalonia. Chicuelo kicks off the festival on Thursday the 16th in Luz de Gas, with his latest effort, 'Uña y carne'. On May 29, also in Luz de Gas, Antonio Rey presents 'Dos partes de mi', and for the first time in Catalonia, Rocío Márquez debuts her fifth album, 'Visto en jueves' on the 18th, while María Terremoto presents 'La huella de mi sentío' on the 30th. You can also enjoy the latest creation from Antonio Lizana: a look at his three latest albums in Luz de Gas on Friday the 17th.

And what would a flamenco festival be without its dancers (known as 'bailaoras')? On May 31 at BARTS you can check out a powerful show, where the legendary dance of bailaora La Chana meets bailaoras Carmen La Talegona, Lucía La Piñona, María Moreno, Mercedes de Córdoba and Rosario Toledo in 'Bailaora. El nuevo tiempo'.

Plus, since the festival is organised by the Taller de Músics, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, pianist and composer Lluís Vidal is at L'Auditori on May 24 with his debut of 'Iberiana', a revisiting of the popular 'Iberia'. Flamenco singer ('cantaor') and alumnus of the Taller de Músics Pedro Martínez presents a vocal recital featuring the most classic flamenco styles on May 23 at Luz de Gas. And the festival once again welcomes young talents from the Tablao de Músics, who present a show that fuses tradition and modernity, music and dance.

If you just can't get enough, don't worry because there's still more! You can really get yourself into the world of flamenco with activities that are on at the same time as the festival. On the 24th and 25th, the I Congrés de Flamencologia i Pedagogia Flamenca brings conferences, exhibitions, open workshops, recitals and even masterclasses on the 17th, 22nd, 23rd and 30th. And the Tablao Flamenco Cordobés hosts a programme on Sunday 19 and Sunday 26 with Juan de Juan, Karime Amaya & Paloma Fantova, and David Cerreduela on guitar.

Check for tickets online via L'Auditori, BARTS and Atrápalo.