An unbeatable Christmas in Barcelona: three cultural events in an exceptional city

The Gran Teatre del Liceu is one of the great opera houses of Europe. Founded in 1844, it has been vital for the expansion of musical art and is where many of the great voices in the history of opera have debuted. This Christmas, you can enjoy one of the most beloved titles in the 20th-century operatic repertoire, Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. It’s a story of betrayed love, cultural conflict and tragic endings (very festive), running from  December 8-28.  Beyond the music, it features acclaimed production by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, alongside a trio of top-level international sopranos, Saioa Hernández, Aylin Pérez and the Bulgarian superstar Sonya Yoncheva, who will play the lead roles. Elegant and moving, it’s the ideal choice for anyone looking for a short cultural getaway in Barcelona.  Book tickets

This exhibition seeks to establish links between two of the most brilliant artists of the 20th century, Henri Matisse and Joan Miró. To say they’re different painters is an understatement, Matisse is 24 years older than Miró and is one of the pioneers of Fauvism, while Miró spearheaded the birth of Cubism and abstract art.  Despite coming from very different creative backgrounds and working with very different styles, both shared the same creative spirit. The exhibition, which you can see at the Fundació Joan Miró until February 9, explores the close relationship between the duo through their choice of shapes and colour, their shared passion for decorative arts, and artefacts that have been collected by both the Musée Matisse in Nice and the Fundació Miró. It’s only available for a limited time, so book now if you’re a fan!
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Sculpture really had a moment at the beginning of the 20th century, as many artists decided that to achieve a beautiful work of art, they must find it within a hunk of stone. As Michelangelo preached, it was a case of shaping the stone until it revealed the sublime form concealed within. With this in mind, many sculptors stopped using plaster and moulds as a technique to find a predetermined shape and began to work directly on the stone, refining it until they obtained the definitive piece. This exhibition, which you can see at the fabulous Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, brings together pieces by avant-garde sculptors such as Hans Arp, Eduardo Chillida, Jorge Oteiza, Naum Gabo, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. The venue itself is something to behold, as the Gaudí-designed space is made up of carefully chiselled stonework – the result of which is something completely unique.
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