El Barrio will fill with fusion flamenco the Palacio de los Deportes San Pablo in Seville on 3^rd and 4^th of February.

El Barrio is José Luis Figuereo better known as Selu. The name of the band is a tribute to his native district Barrio de Santa Maria, the neighborhood with the most flamenco influence in Cadiz known as El Barrio. Seems like Cádiz has something special, because its people got spark, it could be its light and sea.

José Luis Figuereo is a poet and a musician, who has constructed his career little by little. He composes no commercial music with easy choruses; his songs are not heard on common radio stations and no media advertise his albums. It is Word of mouth what makes him sell so many discs and fill stadiums everywhere he goes.

A hat is his trademark. When he wears it, he goes from José Luis Figuereo to El Barrio.

Manolo Caracol, Camarón, Paco de Lucía, Enrique Morente and the Andalusian rock of the 20’s by Medina Azahara, Alameda and Triana have influenced him; His music is flamenco fusion, but in all of his albums there is Bulería, Tango and Alegrías.

He has composed and edited all his musical productions. In 1996 he recorded the album “Yo sueno flamenco”(I sound flamenco). Until then he was just a guitarist. This album is well received and many concerts come along. In 1998 he recorded “Mi secreto” (My Secret), which has even better reception. Then  “Mal de amores” (Lovesick) (1999) and “La fuente del deseo” (The Fountain of Desire) (2000) followed. The phenomenon El Barrio continues to grow. With “Me voy al mundo” (I’m going to the world) (2002) he got his first gold record. In 2003 he published his sixth album “Ángel malherido” (Wounded Angel).” The concerts are crowded and all over Spain. Concerts are sometimes two or three days in a row in the same city, because of the incredible demand for tickets. Hits the market in 2005 “Las playas de invierno” (The beaches of winter) and in 2006 the compilation “Toda una década” (A whole decade). Followed  by albums “La voz de mi silencio”(The voice of my silence) (2007), “Duermevela” (2009), “Al sur de la Atlántida” (South of Atlantis) (2010) and the last to date, “Espejos” (Mirrors) (2011).

All these albums are great, but when he comes on stage with his musicians, the same who have accompanied him from the beginning of his career, they offer second to none shows.

El Barrio fans are known as Barrieros. To be a Barriero is almost a religion. His concerts are highly participatory and normally begin three hours before, right in the queue, where singing, dancing and shouting “Arriba el Selu y olé el Barrio”. In the concerts, the Barrieros feel, jump, sing, dance, and cry when Selu sings the song that touches them. The lyrics are poems. The Selu said such beautiful things, as “the voice of my silence is my soul’s weep”

For more information on the tickets of the show click on the following link: www.cantautorelbarrio.com

Luis Varela

Flamenco lives and breathes through the streets of Seville. If you want to enjoy this concert more comfortably, you can just book apartments in Seville

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Translated by: Hans
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Time to laugh! It is time for us to enjoy a good comic play and laugh until tears come to our eyes . At least that’s what we expect when we go to see clowns, but ¿are all clowns are exactly alike? The Lope de Vega Theater in Seville hosts during the first days of February the work “Uvi – Zone 0″ by The Ulen, a special theater company

The troupe began as Ulen in 1987, founded by Friedhelm Grube, also called Spigel Ulen. Clown theater has always been the basis of the works of Ulen, but throughout their career they have been developing scripts and humor that has given way to a whole mix of emotions and thoughts about life. Its founder’s death marked a before and after the fate of the company and since then has three components. According to themselves, their evolution both artistically and personally, has taken them in ways that have perhaps been complicated and  risky.

If you’ve never heard of Ulen sure you must know that not all members are entirely unknown, Paco Tous, obtained great fame on the TV for his role as Police Chief Paco Miranda Ramos, on the popular comic-detective series on Antenna 3. The other two members of the group are the director Pepe Quero and Maite Sandoval.

What circumstance could have an immigrant worker, a mafia boss of Marbella and a specialist administrative in corruption coexist in the same room for a little while ? Well, the thing is as easy or as elaborate as you want it to be, especially when the room we are talking about is a hospital ICU and these three characters are severely injured patients. The immigrant has suffered a fall from a scaffold and his arm is shattered, the administrative specialist has received no more and no less than 18 stab wounds from her partner and the mafia boss has just suffered a heart attack.

These three testimonies serve to relate some current issues as important as immigration, the intolerable violence against women in our country and the increasing impunity and corruption in many places. The Ulen use harsh reality with humor and satire to present the play. Having been close to death brings these three diverse characters together and allows them to speak openly about life and other matters.

You can see this interesting play from the 1st until the 5th of February from 20:30 and 19:30 on Sunday and tickets are now on sale. If you have not ever seen The Ulen take the opportunity to enjoy the best Andalusian irony.

Fernando Paterna

The Lope de Vega Theater in Seville awaits you to spend a very interesting afternoon combining laughter and thought. If you are thinking about taking the trip, you might be interested to know that renting apartments in Seville is fashionable, because it is an economical and convenient alternative to hotels and hostels.

Translated by: Marc
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The dispute is an old one, despite that lately the etymology seems established that the word derives from the old habit in the Spanish taverns of covering the glasses of wine with some plates of food.

However it was, the famous tapas aren’t just one of the identity traits of Spanish gastronomy around the world but, also, in the words of Ferrán Adrià, a great contemporary driving force behind the concept who, a year ago, decided to revolutionize this phenomenon with the opening of his restaurant ‘Tickets’ in Barcelona, “this is the future of food”.

Although there aren’t many motives to give any part of Spain the maternity of tapas, a highly sociable way of eating that seems to prove Epicurus right when he said that there are no fundamental differences between a person who eats alone and a hungry wolf. Choosing who you eat with is much more important to the Garden philosopher than the nature of the food that’s being eaten. The 1956 edition of the Dictionary of the Spanish Royal Academy, who defined ‘tapa’ for the first time seventeen years before, decided that the word came from Andalucía.

Although such criteria was duly corrected in later editions after 1970, there aren’t few Andalucians who consider their land as the cradle of tapas. And among them, of course, we find the people of Seville, who repute their beautiful and magical city as its Mecca.

Without sharing such hegemonic pretensions, it would be difficult to argue that the quality of the tapas in Seville is truly magnificent. Places like Bar Eslava (Eslava, 3) and its culinary mix of tradition and avant-garde shown in its tapas like honey ribs, are a good example of that.

El Rinconcillo (Gerona, 42) is not left behind by any means, with its over 300 years of history as Seville’s oldest tavern. Predictably, it has the most essential trends where, perhaps to avoid distractions from its excellent cuisine, standing out is strictly prohibited.

In the same traditional orbit, loyal to the local recipes, is Las Piletas (Marques de Paradas, 28), characterized by its famous gatherings and chats and its genuine bullfighting atmosphere.

And entering Triana, the district that encompassed the essence of Seville to such a point that its people don’t consider themselves from Seville, we find unmissable places such as Bar Casa Ruperto (Santa Cecília cornering San Jacinto), awarded with the Silver Chickpea prize from the incredibly prestigious New York Gastronomical Society for maintaining alive the flame of the city’s gastronomical traditions. La Primera del Puente (Betis, 66) also shares the quality of being excellent value for money with the previous restaurant and it also has a terrace next to the river that offers a fabulous view of the Torre del Oro.

Paul Oilzum

In any of these restaurants you can enjoy the excellent Andalucian tapas, regardless of any absurd hierarchy, if you have the immense luck of occupying any apartments in Seville

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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Coinciding with the bicentennial of the enactment of the 1812 Constitution, Teatro Central in Seville presents a new version of “State of Siege” (1948), the play by the French Nobel Albert Camus (1913-1960). The play will be presented at La Cartuja stage from the 24^th of January to the 5^th of February. Feel free to visit the online magazine of the institution, where you can find more details of programming in the following address: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/teatrocentral/pdf/TDM_CENTRAL_2011.pdf

Directed by Jose Luis de Castro, “State of Siege” recreates the Constituent Courts of Cadiz and the short liberal period that ended with the return to absolutism of Fernando VII. The French and Nobel Prize winner Albert Camus, in “State of Siege” develops a similar topic, than the one covered in his emblematic work “The Plague”. While the last is physical illness (based on a historical event) that drowns, and kills the  characters of an Algier harassed  by an epidemic, in “State of Siege” there is a frightening political situation, which has imprisoned an entire nation. Camus addresses this short liberal period that culminated in an outrageous and absurd tyranny, as if it was a viral epidemic. “State of Siege” with a new style, which mixes all genres, has as main characters Death and Plague, symbolizing tyranny and injustice, which roam around a town that barely can get rid of oppression. In the text we can read see through all the background that overwhelms the nihilistic work by Albert Camus, at the same time there is a strong plea for freedom. Although it may seem distant, the background topic of “State of Siege”, with other historical conditioning, of course, it is still fully present.

The 1812 Spanish Constitution was the first attempt (which totally failed in practice) to establish a modern state. Although it was in applicable for a few years, with some interruptions, it failed in its development, since it was abolished with the restoration of Fernando VII. With this frustrated attempt to generate a weak democracy, with its separation of powers and freedom of press (history of freedom of expression), Spain lost its first historic opportunity to become a modern state governed by liberal laws and based on merit and education.

According to the organizers: “The result [in "State of Siege"] is an intensive and eclectic mix of Euripides with self-sacramental and the echoes of The Camus’s Plague. The dialogues speak of the repeated concerns of the author: freedom, tyranny, death, love and faith in the light of the Mediterranean as a cure for the ills of the spirit in the West. “

Candela Vizcaíno

The Pearl of the Guadalquivir is beautiful even in winter. Book apartments in Seville You’ll be amazed with the golden light of its sunsets.

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Seville is one of the most touristic cities in Spain. There is a legend that says that Hercules founded the city in ancient times. With a deep history and tradition, Seville is also a place that offers a wide variety of culture, museums and galleries, and a rich nightlife if you’re looking for some fun and excitement experiences.

Before organizing a trip to Seville, consider all the possibilities that each season brings along, as well as the activities that are best for you and your traveling companions. Usually traveling alone is one of the best ways of traveling. As in the past it has been exposed, there is nothing better than having the freedom to do whatever you want during your holiday trip. Sometimes, many people travel to Seville to disconnect themselves a little. Certainly, the pace of cities like Barcelona or Madrid is completely different. The hectic pace of these two cities, probably because they are a work activity cluster, commercial, etc, is a bit more suffocating than in other parts of Spain. Undoubtedly, the pace of life in Seville is much quieter, and the warmth, because of its people and their affection that give you a much better traveling experience than the Spanish or the Catalan capital.

If you are traveling accompanied, whether in a romantic plan, or with friends, choose well your destinations and with plenty of time, in order for you to have peace in mind. If traveling with family, the story is different, it costs a bit more, but, Seville will offer historical and tourist places for both your children and family, play areas for children, and more. If for example you travel during the winter, around the Christmas dates, you will see the streets beautifully adorned, lively people singing carols, and some of that solidarity feeling that Christmas brings in the air.

Many people, including Sevillians, complain of the extreme heat experienced during the summer time. Thus, many people take refuge in their houses until the heat goes down. Usually nighttime starts around 10 pm and the weekend parties go till dawn. You can thus enjoy a cold beer and delicious tapas on a terrace, meeting new friends and enjoying the generosity of Seville. Perhaps the best times to visit Seville are the spring and the autumn, usually the best times to travel throughout Europe, because it is when it is easy to go walking the streets, visiting churches, archaeological sites and being outdoors. For more information on the attractions of the beautiful Seville, visit this website: http://www.turismosevilla.org/

Alexa Ray

Get apartments in Seville and experience this pleasant city and the warmth of its people. Seville offers a culture-filled space, comfort and relaxation for you and your family.

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Translated by: Hans
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The great Estrella Morente, who will offer two highly anticipated concerts on the 21^st and 22^nd of January at the fashionable Teatro de la Maestranza http://www.teatrodelamaestranza.es/secciones/prog/prog_ficha.php?id=509, was able to learn from her father (the remembered singer Enrique Morente, one of the great geniuses of flamenco, and sadly disappeared prematurely and unexpectedly a little more than a year ago, perhaps because of suspected medical malpractice), that flamenco  each day is different and is felt differently, with diverse colors, fragrances, dyes, textures, sounds, silences and music, as the Che Guevara’s revolution, does not know, when is done from the heart, barriers or geographical boundaries.

As a child, she fantasized, from time to time, with the illusion of becoming a doctor, nurse, clerk, hairdresser or any other professions that children often play, but she always knew with an unshakeable certainty that when she grew up, could not do anything different than what her father did. It was not that hard for her to imagine a clearer destination, she heard it in the air and saw it written since her childhood in every corner of her house (her mother is the dancer Aurora Carbonell): her need to create, essentially from the singing, and continue a tradition that never was imposed in the least but gush freely offered with such generosity, talent and intoxicating power of seduction, almost of enchantment, which would have been impossible to devote in any other way.

The close and magical link with her father, who was her mentor from the start of her career, when he included her voice in his own albums and tours, so violently changed with the tragic shock of his death on the first of December 2010. We saw then, an absolutely shattered Estrella, who took the strength to sing La Habanera imposible by Carlos Cano in the chapel where her closest friends honored and said good bye her father. Since then Estrella, has been one of the great promises of contemporary flamenco (some people even say that the legendary flamenco guitarist Sabicas, once had to stop playing when the girl was only 7 because, he was overwhelmed by an intense aesthetic emotion and was unable to hold back his tears) by devoting herself to prepare, without any rush, an album that could honor her father. It is predictable that some of the songs included on it, will be heard in the concerts at the Teatro de la Maestranza, including a Requiem composed for the occasion by Michael Nyman and an Adaggio recreation done by Enrique Morente.

Paul Oilzum

To sum up, there are two deep and emotional shows, which you can’t miss if you rent apartments in Seville during those dates.

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Translated by: Hans
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Pedro Guerra has a new album! After his last album released in 2009, we have the arrival of ‘El Mono Espabliado’. The Teatro Lope de Vega in Seville presents the new material of this Canarian singer/songwriter in mid-January 2012.

His fans awaited him, and it had been some time since Pedro Guerra surprised us with something new. Pedro Guerra is one of those singers who knows how to enjoy music and life, and that can be strongly noticed in his lyrics, their freshness and the tenderness that they’re composed. Silvio Rodríguez was his childhood idol and Pedro wanted to develop a similar type of music, which came into contact with people’s feelings. He’s an emotional singer who also takes advantage of his music to make social complaints, just as it happens with other classic singers. According to Pedro, life is short, beautiful and simple, something which he can transmit perfectly to the crowd in his concerts.

The magnificent accoustics and magic at the Teatro Lope de Vega will be perfect to present the new songs of this unique artist.

‘El Mono Espabliado’ (The Savvy Monkey) is a curious and funny name which is the title of one of his songs which also gives its name to the album. The new work includes 13 songs and two luxury collaborations. Miguel Poveda and Iván Ferreiro participate singing together with Pedro in the songs ‘Mi Locura’ (‘My Madness’) and ‘Aquella Vieja Canción’ (‘That Old Song’) respectively.

But why ‘El Mono Espabilado’? Where does that title come from? The answer is in a scientific book by Robert Sapolsky, ‘Monkeyluv’, which translates in Spanish as ‘El Mono Enamorado’, the monkey in love. According to Pedro we’re just a monkey who has been savvy enough to fall in love. Extracting a song from every experience or other artistic works is something commonplace in Pedro Guerra’s music, and in the same way that it happens with the song ‘El Mono Espabilado’, the author bases himself on the director Andrei Tarkovski, school teachers, anthropological images. R.L. Stevenson, stories by Perrault and various books.

The album has something which makes it special for Pedro, not only on an artistic level but also on a professional level, because this is the first time that he’s released an album on his own record label. Mansi Producciones is the new record label of the Canarian author, who has brought to light this wonderful album.

On the stage we can expect a very intimate show where illustrations of the singer will appear, the same ones that we can find in the booklet and cover of the album. Luis Fernández, José Gómez and Marcelo Guebión will accompany Pedro with the piano, bass and drums to delight the Sevillian crowd with the new and old songs, such as ‘Contamíname’ (‘Contaminate me’), ‘Debajo del Puente’ (‘Under the bridge’) or ‘El Marido de la Peluquera’ (‘The Hairdresser’s Husband’).

The concert will take place on the 16th of January 2012 at the Teatro Lope de Vega in Seville at 8.30pm, and the tickets cost from 18 to 35 euros, depending on the type of seat. For more information:

http://www.teatrolopedevega.org

Fernando Paterna

He who decides to go to Seville to see the presentation of ‘El Mono Espabilado’ has to know that not only he will come across a luxury concert but also enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The rental of apartments in Seville is growing, so you don’t have any excuses to stay a few days in the Andalucian capital.

Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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Recently, many exhibits and displays are mapping and showing various approaches or ways of understanding economy, how it has been discussed about (in a historiography way) and is showing signs of how capitalism is seen as the global overview of organization, giving clear way to neoliberalism, and all its implications. The funny thing is that the story of our economy is not new, nor are its errors, defects, or experiences that individuals have collected from the economies of their generations. This sample is a first examples of the creation of commerce and industry in Seville, and how these changes are an important principle to a regional economy.

Similarly, we think in disbelief  that human experience is crossed by economy, that it has ended mixed up in fragments of political speeches we never consider as true. Reality takes a hard and dense dimension when finally, we actually try to get into the labor market, after some alleged or without even an educational background. The experience of obtaining a job opportunity is completely different from region to region, but certainly is now more than ever a problem that is more than ever present. You  would also think about educational systems and how we are educated the same way, it is believed that art or the distinctions between art and politics do not exist or exist. But the curious thing is that no one realizes, economy will tackle all economic adjustments and impact equally on an artistic production and  and leave behind documents, traces of a past that unwittingly survives.

For this reason, the exhibition Five Centuries of Economic Report ofthe Seville Chamber of Commerce, presents in detail both for the general public and specialists, over 100 documents ranging from letters of nature, orders, billing insurance as well as shipwrecks and records data on industries and trade between the XII and XIV century. Thus, with true details, you can discover how in Seville at the time, soap, paper etc, among other products was produced.  In addition to all being related to trade in this area of ??Spain, a deep approach on the different roles and trades was also made possible, from signatures in documents such as street names, seals, firms, letters, fonts, etc.. This important effort will help us to better portray, the origins of local economies, having in this case Seville as the center part of the exhibit. However, the panorama that is displayed can be trespassed to any other city or province of the time, and get a better understanding of the account of the economic processes of that time.

For more information on this exhibition please visit the following website

http://www.fundacioncamaradesevilla.es/

Alexa Ray

Get apartments in Seville and enjoy their own culture, exhibitions and museums. Seville has much to offer throughout the year, the friendly people, the delicious food and beautiful city awaits you with arms wide open

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2012 is coming. The Mayans predicted the end of the world, and apparently that is what is happening. The global economic crisis is making the world to act to counterbalance the erosion of neoliberalism, the economic system that no longer works. But this Christmas, with the change of government in Spain, can be a “White Christmas”? Let’s be clear, the unemployment figures now bordering on 21% of the population. We are thus speaking of more than 4.5 million people.

One way or another, camping around the country has been able to voice up on the situation of abandonment in which many people find themselves. Similarly, in different parts of the world, including the Occupy Wall Street movement has brought to the fore the importance of both youth and union workers to condemn the various tentacles of corruption that governments everywhere in the world will not do more than extend and extend. It is winter, and camping is having its harder time.

Can you think of Christmas in such circumstances? Probably with some excitement and only thinking about children. In matters of economic crisis, and with some extremely expensive products, sometimes it is possible to invent new ways of presenting gifts if you start thinking from now on Three Kings Day. There are many ways to make toys from recycled items and even new toys from old toys, as well as making greeting cards for all the family from recycled paper or cardboard. Not only it does not cost a dime, but also helps in the reduction of cut tree. And to think that nature is also in crisis ….

Many people are afraid of Christmas and the memories it brings. Many experts say, that Christmas is one of the toughest dates of the year, because it is loaded with nostalgia and the weight of memories of those who are no longer with us, or the ones who we spent Christmas with. Some other people who say, that Christmas should be a sign of hope, love and harmony among all human beings, are not necessarily accurate, it is perhaps a utopia. However, having a great time with friends is possible in any place and in Sevilla it is even better. The warmth of Seville and the various local restaurants at your disposal, can make you spend a very pleasant dinner and fun during these dates, especially if you’re with friends or new people you just met.

Christmas in Seville is certainly unique, beautifully lights decorated streets, fairs and concerts for everybody, and especially many activities for children. If you walk around Seville during Christmas, you will hear carols everywhere, and a fair environment in which different products and fine dining are offered. The cold weather is comfortable although perhaps, it is not a good place to stay in Spain and have fun, despite the inconvenience it has brought the year that is passing by.

Alexa Ray

Get apartments in Seville and enjoy Christmas in this beautiful city.

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Translated by: Hans
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Miguel Ángel Poveda León was born in Barcelona in February 1973, and with nearly 40 years of age he managed what all artists want: the recognition of the public and his colleagues. This man is one of the most famous flamenco singers in the whole world, even though he’s known by the name Miguel Poveda. Since the age of 15 he’s dedicated himself to flamenco music, but it was running through his veins since he was in his mother’s womb.

His professional flamenco career began in 1993 after having won various famous national awards which made him famous around Spain first and then around the world. And so, step by step and with a lot of care and work, Poveda won many awards for his artistic work. Some of the latest are the Catalunya National Culture Prize this year, a special prize given by the Local Federation of Flamenco fanclubs in 2009 during the 13th Jerez Festival, and many others.

By winning prizes, the people and his musical colleagues got to know him. Today he’s a well-loved artist by all the public who love flamenco, both from and out of Spain. He played in the most important cities in the world representing his culture and his passion. For example, he played a concert at the Odeon in Paris, at the Colón Theatre in Buenos Aires, at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, and in many other places in a never-ending list.

As well as being a very charismatic man, he’s good looking and the women die for him when he shouts his classical ‘olé’ and puts on his most heartfelt facial expressions. But Miguel Poveda isn’t just a pretty face. Film directors such as Pedro Almodóvar and Bigas Luna called him to participate in their films. The same happened with other artists who wanted to sing with him, such as Joan Manuel Serrat, Pasión Vega, Raphael and others.

The citizens and visitors of the city of Seville will have the pleasure of being able to listen to this privileged voice at the Maestranza Theatre, in three exclusive concerts which will take place on the 10th, 11th and 12th of December of 2011. The time will be at 8.30pm and those who attend will fall in love with his songs which will go back to his greatest hits from his career from his eight recorded albums. ‘Copias del querer’, his latest album, is already in platinum.

And that’s how the classic flamenco from all times is still alive in the hearts and the blood of all good music lovers. Miguel Poveda knew how to adapt to the cultural changes of recent times and, today, he’s the modern symbol of transformation of the musical genre.

For more information on this series of concerts, you can visit the Maestranza Theatre’s website, where you can also buy the tickets for his show:

http://www.teatrodelamaestranza.es/secciones/prog/prog_ficha.php?id=508

d.b

If you rent apartments in Seville in December, you’ll be one step away from listening to the best contemporary flamenco singer, which is an ideal plan for a tourist who wants to get to know the culture from a new country, its people and its music. Also, the Maestranza Theatre is an emblem of the city which you should visit if you’re visiting it.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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