Hi Becky,

Perhaps start a new thread unless it has to do with flamenco in Barcelona.

If you go to Barcelona in early november, you should note that there are major flamenco events from Oct 30 to Nov. 10. The finest flamenco artists on the current scene celebrate the greatest in flamenco dance history, the barcelonesa Carmen Amaya (1913-1963) every night at 9pm in majestic Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. This is the highlight of the Carmen Amaya year in Barcelona, 100 years after she was born and 50 after she died. Could easily be a highlight of your trip. Plain fantastic Rocío Molina dances all nights: http://www.rociomolina.net/

Thank you; we will be in Spain during those dates!! I'll save the above link and I will start a new thread, Help with Travel Plans to Spain. Please be on the lookout for it. I would love your input. Regards, Becky

Just glad to help and see you on your new thread.

Too bad, we arrive in Barcelona on November 11th.

Too bad, this will be something very out of the ordinary. But great flamenco every night at Tablao Cordobés and Tablao de Carmen. Popular with tourists, but only real deal artists perform here. And November will be all Carmen in both these places as well. Karime Amaya, the grand-niese of Carmen Amaya, has danced regularly in Tablao Cordobés the past year, and I would be surprised if she's not here in November. She'll probably be in the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya as well. Her career is taking off right now. You can see her in this trailer for the recent documentary Bajarí about flamenco culture in Barcelona: http://vimeo.com/51519531

Kimhe:
Is there any good flamenco to see in Barcelona from Sept 16-22? Those are our dates for 2013.

Thanks!

Yogini

ygoini222,

Top of the shelf artists at Tablao Cordobés through all of September.

Always great singers and guitarists here, and on your dates these dancers are scheduled to perform:

Pastora Galván, voted best female flamenco dancer 2010 by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2SBUcrJgeQ

Farru, here together with guitar legend Paco de Lucía:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrxGsksJusU

And Karime Amaya, grand-niese of the greatest of all time Carmen Amaya (1913-1963). Her career is taking off now. Here in the Bajarí documentary mentioned above: http://vimeo.com/51519531

Reservations a must: http://www.tablaocordobes.com/index.html

Kimhe:
Thanks a million! I can't wait.
I'm kicking myself because I scheduled a quick trip to Bilboa from Sept 23-25, right before we leave for home (Baltimore area.) and then found that the Merce is late this year so we'll miss it.
Oh we'll, next time!

Yogini 222

And Bilbao is a great city. Going myself in October, and I'm heading directly for what used to be Café Boulevard (from 1871), recently reopened as Gran Café El Mercante, and pintxos in close by Plaza Nueva and the rest of the Casco viejo/Old town. Have a nice trip!

Kimhe:
A propos your remark about going to Bilboa: we're going on Monday morning, Sept 23 for 2 nights.
Any suggestions for Monday, when everything is closed?

Thanks,
Yogini

Perfect day to arrive and get to know the city. Everything isn't closed on Monday, some restaurants yes take their weekly breake, but far from all.

Perhaps take the funicular up to the Artxanda summit to get great views of the city: http://www.bilbao.net/cs/Satellite/f...0382/Contenido

Walk the city and stop for a cup or glass at either or both Café Iruña and the Gran Café mentioned above. The latter is on the edge of the Old town which deserves some serious exploring. Here you also find the excellent Ribera food market, open weekdays from 8-14 and 16.30 to 19 (no fish on Monday). Go for pintxos or a sit down meal in one of the numerous pintxos bars and restaurants. Some of the more famous are on Plaza Nueva.

Many restaurants serve a great value three course Menu del Día at lunchtime with wine included for some 10-15€. For example 14€ at Café Iruña. http://www.minube.net/place/cafe-iruna--a48087

Kimhe: thanks for taking the time to share your expertise.

Much appreciated.

Gracias,
Yogini

RBHaaland,

The tickets for the Carmen Amaya flamenco concert "La Capitana" in the Catalan National Theater in Barcelona Oct 30 - Nov 10 are now on sale. With fantastic artists such as Rocío Molina (dance) and Mayte Martín (song) in separate parts of the performance: http://www.tnc.cat/en/la-capitana-ho...en-amaya-info/

Bookmarking for Barcelona in May, how far ahead should one book?

I'll check that out. What are you thoughts on this show: el Tablao de carmen

It looks nice; I just can't get any info on seating. Seems to be general admission and I'd just want to make sure we have good seating. Are you familiar with this one?

RBHaaland

El Tablao de Carmen is one of the two top tablaos in Barcelona, El Tablao Cordobés on Las Ramblas is the other one. Only great artists perform in these two places. In El Tablao de Carmen the stage is in the dining room, and most of the tables are very close to the stage. You can try to ask for seating directly next to the stage. http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/

But don't do a night at Tablao de Carmen instead of "La Capitana" in Teatre Nacional. Flamenco aficionados will come from far away to Barcelona for this event.

Hi Kimhe, hoping for your help again! Looking for a flamenco performance either in Barcelona between May 12th - 14th or in Madrid on May 15th or 16th. We will be longer in Barcelona but which city/shows do you suggest?
Thanks!

No concerts for your dates posted yet, but you should check a month or so in advance.

Flamenco concerts in Madrid are updated here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos...en-madrid.html

In Barcelona, here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos...barcelona.html

And more detailed here: http://www.guiaflama.com/agenda/

Which tablaos (flamenco restaurants) to visit much depends on who's performing on your night, and that's not scheduled yet. But on a general basis I'll say that Casa Patas in Madrid has consistently been the best in the country the past years: http://www.casapatas.com/
Other great tablaos in Madrid include Cardamomo, Corral de la Morería and Las Carboneras. And even though flamenco comes from the South (Andalucía), Madrid is the flamenco capital of the world. Everyone has to conquer Madrid to get to the top.

In Barcelona only top of the shelf artists perform at Tablao Cordobés and at Tablao de Carmen (Amaya):
http://www.tablaocordobes.es/en/
http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/en/

And here are some clips from Casa Patas in Madrid the past two years:

Fuensanta La Moneta, voted best female flamenco dancer 2009 by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbO_lw2xWtU

Pastora Galván, voted best female flamenco dancer 2010 by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY6Vy9tKW3U

Olga Pericet, voted best female flamenco dancer 2011 by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55waEsaBzjM

Cutting edge Israel Galván has revolutionized male flamenco dance during the past decade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9Wav9v7Jc

Estrella Morente, now the world's most famous cantaora (female flamenco singer): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sejSYMSQDZo

Thanks so much kimhe, you are a wealth of information! Will check back in April and maybe ask for your expert advise again to pick one!

Do so, just glad to help.