Barcelona Music, Theater, And Dance

Barcelona offers many options for theater aficionados, though most performances are in Catalan ( Guía del Ocio lists the language of the performance). Reserve tickets through TelEntrada (24hr. ☎902 10 12 12; www.telentrada.com), ServiCaixa at any branch of the Caixa Catalunya bank (24hr. ☎902 33 22 11, for groups 88 80 90; www.servicaixa.com; open M-F 8am-2:30pm), or www.ticktackticket.com—the Spanish Ticketmaster. The Grec summer festival turns Barcelona into an international theater, music, and dance extravaganza. For information about the festival, ask at the tourist office, check out www.barcelonafestival.com, or, during the festival, stop by the booth at the bottom of Pl. de Catalunya, on Portal de Angel.

In the past decade, Barcelona has managed to establish itself as a major stop for touring bands—especially during summer music festivals. Sónar, the grandaddy of them all, comes to town in mid-June, attracting renowned DJs and electronica enthusiasts from all over the world for three days (and very long nights) of concerts and partying. Besides Sónar, major music festivals include Summercase (indie and pop), Primavera Sound (more indie and pop), and Jazzaldia. Check www.mondosonoro.com or pick up the Mondo Sonoro festival guide at hostels and bars. For info on cultural activities in the city, swing by the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona (ICUB), Palau de la Virreina, La Rambla, 99. (☎933 16 10 00; www.bcn.cat/cultura. Info office open daily 10am-8pm. Most performances around €18-30.) Check www.barcelonaturisme.com for occasional 10% discounts. Palau de la Música Catalana, C. Sant Francese de Paula, 2 (☎932 95 72 00; www.palaumusica.org; Urquinaona), to the right off Via Laietana near the level of Pl. Urquinaona, also sells concert tickets. (Concert tickets €8-175. Box office open M-Sa 9am-9pm, Su from 1hr. prior to the concert. No concerts in Aug.; check the Guía del Ocio for listings. MC/V.)

Palau de la Música Catalana, C. Sant Francese de Paula, 2 (☎902 44 28 82; www.palaumusica.org) Jaume I, L4, in La Ribera, off Via Laietana near Pl. Urquinaona. Head up Via Laietana to the intersection of C. Ionqueres. Performances most often feature choirs and orchestras, but the venue also hosts pop and rock artists from time to time. Box office open M-Sa 10am-9pm, Su from 2hr. before show time. No concerts in Aug.; check website or the Guía del Ocio for listings. Concert tickets €8-175. MC/V.
Centre Artesà Tradicionàrius, Tr. de Sant Antoni, 6-8 (☎932 18 44 85; www.tradicionarius.com), in Gràcia. Fontana. Catalan folk music concerts Sept.-June. Tickets €6-12; frequent free concerts. Also dance, music workshops, and summer festivals; inquire for details. Open Sept.-July. M-F 11am-2pm and 5-9pm. Cash only.
Gran Teatre del Liceu, La Rambla, 51-59 (☎934 85 99 13; www.liceubarcelona.com). Liceu. Founded in 1847, destroyed by fire in 1994, and recently reopened, Liceu has regained its status as the city’s premier venue for opera, ballet, and classical music. Reserve tickets in advance. Box office open M-F 1:30-8pm, Sa-Su and holidays 1hr. before showtime. 24hr. ticket sales at ServiCaixa. AmEx/MC/V.
L’Auditori, C. Lepanto, 150 (☎932 47 93 00; www.auditori.com), in L’Eixample between Marina and Glòries. Home to the city orchestra (the BOC) and host to visiting chamber, choral, and jazz groups. Concerts from late Sept. to mid-July. Tickets €6-50; special performances up to €120. Available by phone, through ServiCaixa or TelEntrada, or at ticket windows (open M-Sa noon-9pm, Su 1hr. before show starts). MC/V.

High Culture, Low Budget. The Gran Teatre del Liceu sells nosebleed seats at low prices. Beware of the cheapest tickets (€7-9) unless you want to sit behind an obstruction. Students with ID can arrive at the theater 2hr. before showtime (1hr. on weekends) and pick up remainder seats at a 30% discount. This is best attempted on weekdays, when seats more frequently go unsold.

Teatre Lliure, C. Montseny, C. Montseny, 47 (☎932 18 92 51; www.teatrelliure.com), in Gràcia. Fontana. Showcases contemporary theater productions from summer festivals to Shakespeare. Call or check website for information. Tickets may be purchased at the theater or by calling Tel Entrada. Wheelchair-accessible. Shows May-Oct. Tu-Sa 9pm, Su 7pm; Nov.-Apr. Tu-Sa 9pm, Su 6pm. Tickets M-W balcony €12, orchestra €16; Th-Su €15/19. 20% discount for students.
Teatre Grec, 38 (Tel-Entrada ☎902 10 12 12; www.grec.bcn.es), across from the Museu d’Arqueològia. From Espanya, L1/L3 take bus #55 to Montjuïc. Located in the picturesque Jardins Amargós, the Teatre Grec was carved out of an old stone quarry in 1929 under the direction of Ramon Reventós. The open-air Grecian-style amphitheater is the namesake and occasional host of the Grec Barcelona Summer Theater Festival (p. 138). Most theater performances are in Spanish or Catalan, but there are plenty of music and dance shows. Outdoor cafe open July daily 8pm-3am.
Mercat de Les Flors, C. Lleida, 59 (☎93 426 18 75; www.bcn.es/icub/mflorsteatre). From Espanya, L1/L3, take bus #55 to Montjuïc. A converted flower market, now one of the city’s major theater venues and a stage for the Grec festival. The Mercat de Les Flors and Teatre Grec will soon be incorporated into the Ciutat del Teatre (City of Theater)—a home for theater performance and training in Barcelona. For tickets, call Tel Entrada or stop by the Palau de la Virreina at Las Ramblas, 99.
Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, Pl. de les Arts, 1 (☎93 306 57 00; tickets 93 306 07 06; www.tnc.es), near the intersection of Av. Diagonal and Av. Meridiana. Glòries, L1, in l’Eixample. This national theater hosts classical theater and ballet in its main room (usually 1-2 shows per month) and various contemporary music, dance, circus, and textual performances in accompanying spaces. Tickets for the main room €20-24, students and seniors 20% discount. Available over the phone, through ServiCaixa (www.servicaixa.com), or at ticket windows (open M noon-3pm and 4-9pm, Tu-Sa noon-9pm, Su noon-6pm; shorter hours in winter).
Palau d’Esports Sant Jordi, on Montjuïc. (☎93 426 20 89). This huge venue hosts big-name musicians. For concert info, check www.agendabcn.com or the Guía del Ocio.
Palau de la Generalitat, at Pl. Sant Jaume (☎93 402 46 16; www.gencat.es). Jaume I, L4, in the Barri Gòtic. The Palau hosts a free bell concert on the 1st Su of every month at noon.

Apolo, Nou de la Rambla, 113 (☎934 41 40 01; www.sala-apolo.com), Paral·lel. The first place to look for major indie acts to come through Barcelona (think people like Nouvelle Vague and Camera Obscura). Hosts its fair share of electronica and hip-hop artists as well, along with Flamenco shows the first W of every month (www.myspace.com/flamencoobsessions). Beer €4. Mixed drinks €8. Tickets €12-22, usually available online at www.sala-apolo.com. MC/V.
Jamboree, Plaça Reial, 17 (☎933 19 17 89; www.masimas.com), Liceu. Boasts a jazz series that’s been active since the 60s and still brings relevant musicians (Elvin Jones and Art Farmer have appeared here). Also ventures into funk and hip hop with WTF Jam Sessions (M 9pm-1:30am, €4). Upstairs, Tarantos holds flamenco shows (daily 8:30, 9:30, 10:30pm; €7) Jazz performances Tu-Su 9 and 11pm. Tickets (€10-12) available through www.telentrada.com. AmEx/MC/V.
Sidecar, Plaça Reial, 7 (☎933 17 76 66; www.sidecarfactoryclub.com). Liceu. Hosts pop and rock shows. Tends to showcase more local acts and fewer internationally imported bands compared to other Barcelona concert venues. Check website for listings. Tickets (€6-14) often available through www.atrapalo.com. Cash only.
Razzmatazz, C. Pamplona, 88, and Almogàvers, 122 (☎932 72 09 10; www.salarazzmatazz.com). Marina. This massive converted warehouse now hosts a wide range of big name musical acts from reggae to metal to electro-pop (big name means big name: Gossip, Offspring, and so on). This is where Barack Obama goes when he’s in Barcelona. Just kidding. Check website for upcoming concerts. Most tickets (€12-30) available online through Telentrada or Ticketmaster. AmEx/MC/V.
BeCool, Pl. Joan Llongueras, 5. (☎933 62 04 13; www.salabecool.com). Hospital Clínic. Walk up C. Comte d’Urgell, left on Diagonal, and right onto C. Beethoven; Pl. Joan Llongueras will be on your left. Opened in 2006, this venue has quickly become a common stop for indie bands touring Europe. When the show ends, weekend DJ sessions begin and last until dawn. Check website for upcoming shows and online ticket sales (€5-22). Beer €4. Mixed drinks €7-8. Cover €12, 1 drink included. Open Th-Sa 1-6am. MC/V.
Salamandra, Av. Carrilet, 235, and Av. Carrilet, 301. (☎933 37 06 02; www.salamandra.cat). Av. Carrilet. 2 rooms host an eclectic spread of performers, from black metal to baltic folk ensembles (a little more of the former than the latter). Check website for upcoming shows and online ticket sales.

Flamenco

Although Catalunya does not have a tradition of flamenco, a dance which originated with the gypsies in southern Spain’s Andalucía, the tourist industry has fed the demand for flamenco venues. Though shows are geared toward tourists, in no way does that reflect poorly on their quality; some of the best flamenco musicians and dancers in Spain pass through these establishments.

El Patio Andaluz, C. Aribau, 242 (☎93 209 33 78), in Gràcia. Diagonal. From the Metro, take a left on Diagonal and turn right on C. Aribau. Lively Andalusian-themed restaurant showcases traditional Spanish flamenco. Show and 1 drink €30; show and menú from €54. Daily shows at 9:30pm and midnight. Call 9am-7pm for reservations. El Patio’s red-paneled bar, Las Sevillanas del Patio, stays open until 3am for drinks and dancing.
Guasch Teatre, C. Aragó, 140 (☎93 323 39 50 or 93 451 34 62). Urgell, L1, in l’Eixample. Presents both children’s theater, like Cinderella and Gulliver’s Travel’s, and adult theater. Often showcases flamenco; call for schedules. Tickets €6-18. Children’s theater generally shown Th 6pm, F-Sa 12:30pm, Su 5:30pm; adult theater Th 9pm, F-Sa 10pm, Su 7:30pm. Ticket office opens 1hr. prior to performance.