Latest news with #Miró
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Spanish language theater company presents powerful ‘The Passage'
There's a reason Catalan author Josep María Miró's 'The Passage' (in Spanish, 'La Travesía') has been translated into more than five languages. The play, with its universal message, deals with the origins of human actions and why we do what we do. Arca Images is presenting the Miami premiere of 'The Passage' directed by Carlos Celdrán and, for the fourth time, the return of a work by the multi-award-winning Miró to the Miami stage. In collaboration with Ajedrez Eventos de México, Roxy Theater Group, and the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, performances are at the Westchester Cultural Arts Center from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 20. The play will be presented in Spanish with simultaneous English translation. 'I was interested in talking about a conflict that takes place in 'no man's land', where the protagonists go to help and realize there are also flaws in their work,' says Miró, about the work written in 2015. In the plot, Sister Cecilia, the main character played by Elba Escobar, undertakes an ethical journey after a girl dies in her arms as a result of being brutally assaulted. The event forces her to reflect her work with a humanitarian project located in a war zone. For Celdrán, resident director of Arca Images, Miró's work 'delves into a complex and unprecedented landscape.' He was seduced by the story, Celdrán emphasizes, because it is 'material that allows us to think about the present, the current situation, the dilemmas of contemporary beings from a very personal perspective.' Miró observes the strength of the piece in its discourse and its characters, who likes his writing to be a challenge for the actors on stage as well as the audience. 'It's a work,' he says, 'above all, of actors, which is very attractive because of what it presents in terms of acting and theatricality.' Escobar is joined by Arca Images' actors Juan David Ferrer (Rai), Caleb Casas (Oscar), Guillermo Cabré (Isaac), and Rachel Pastor (Sister Isabel). Celdrán emphasizes that 'unraveling the keys to the text is a fundamental exercise. He is an essential author who meticulously focuses on every word, every detail, and every pause. His text is a living, breathing, and complementary organism. It is a form of writing of the utmost rigor that forces you to pay attention, to listen to the silences, the smallest hints.' Connoisseurs and admirers of their respective works, the creative exchange has been a 'different journey' for both artists, in which Miró's theatrical language and Celdrán's theatrical vision intersect. 'It's a dialogue born of admiration, respect, and friendship. I find Celdrán to be a highly stimulating person. If we shared the same geography, I would surely have sneaked into a rehearsal to see the process, to see how the actors make the journey, but always from a place of respect,' says Miró. Miró will attend performances of 'The Passage' in Miami after the Barcelona premiere of his most recent work, 'The Monster' ('El Monstruo'), in early July. 'What do I expect from the Miami audience? I like to see how they breathe, what questions they have, and how they read it. It's exciting to come back and see how the audience receives it,' says the playwright. Alexa Kuve's company, Arca Images, receives a nod from Celdrán regarding the types of work selected to bring to Miami audiences. In response to Miró's play, Celdrán comments, 'It's always worth investing in the theater that speaks to the present.' Following the Miami performances, 'The Passage' will travel to the El Círculo Teatral in Mexico City for a show at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 27. If you go: WHAT: Premiere of 'La travesía' by Josep María Miró (in Spanish with simultaneous translation into English). WHEN: 8 p.m., Friday, July 11 and 18, and Saturday, July 12 and 19; 5 p.m., Sundays July 13 and 20. WHERE: Westchester Cultural Arts Center, 7930 SW 40th St., Miami COST: $30 general admission, $25 for seniors and students with valid ID. INFORMATION: is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music, and more. Don't miss a story at
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Football: Young Kiwi Talent Offered Time With Barcelona
A small group of Kiwi kids have taken their passion for football further after they were selected to play football in Barcelona. Barça Academy, the junior programme associated with internationally recognised football club Barcelona FC, held a week-long experience camp for young football players in both Wellington and Auckland in January for people between four and 18 years of age. In some cases, players can be selected to travel to Barcelona to play in the academy's World Cup, where they play against local teams and train at the Barça headquarters, right next to where the first teams train and where La Masia, FC Barcelona's youth academy, competes in its domestic leagues. Eight-year-old Shera and seven-year-old Viggo were both selected to play at the Barça Academy World Cup after they were scouted at the Auckland camp. Viggo's dad, Eftim Stojanov, said he would even consider moving to Europe for his son's career. He said the world cup selection was confirmation of the talent his son displayed on the field. Shera's dad, Jackie Seo, said the experience camp in Auckland not only brought out Shera's passion for the game, but her personality as well. Aldric Miró, technical director of Barça Academy Camps in New Zealand, said the camps aimed to share FC Barcelona's style of play as the sport continued to grow here. "New Zealand is a growing market, not only from a business perspective, but also in its increasing interest in soccer," Miró said. "The club recognised an opportunity to bring the camps back to a country that has made significant strides in developing first-class facilities." Miró said Barça Academy offered New Zealand kids who love football the chance to experience what it's like to be a Barça player for a week. He also said the club was taken back by the skill level of young New Zealanders. "While we initially expected an average level of play, we've been impressed by the talent we've seen in Wellington and Auckland." Miró said the club plans to return to New Zealand in January 2026. Football New Zealand technical director Andy Boynes said that while the growth of the sport had attracted international attention, for some families, the cost meant it wasn't as simple as heading overseas to play. The cost of the week long experience camp was $1149, with an additonal $999 of GST not included. If a child is then selected to play in the academies world cup, there is an additional cost of over $6300 to cover tournament costs, uniforms, and additional training sessions. A supporters package to chaperone a child travelling to the world cup is over $4700, to cover the costs of the parent of guardian. Flights to and from Barcelona were additional to both the player and supporter packages. He said it was important parents understood that these academies were also businesses. "Sometimes it is commercial motives, rather than player development motives." Boynes said while it provided a fun experience, there were many opportunities in New Zealand that supported young players too. He said Football New Zealand was proud of the broad, grassroots system here. "We have over 450 clubs across the country that deliver quality football," Boynes said.
RTÉ News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Spain gears up for year-long celebration of surrealist Joan Miró
The torchbearers for one of Spain's most famous artists, Joan Miró, are promising a year-long fiesta of events honouring the surrealist - and the foundation he set up half a century ago. Miró, who died in 1983 aged 90, was a giant of the surrealist movement, known for his playful, abstract paintings with bright geometric forms and doodle-like calligraphic lines. The Joan Miró Foundation, which he established in a purpose-built modernist structure on top of a hill in Barcelona in 1975, now houses a vast collection of his canvases, sculptures and other works. The institution is planning a year-long series of events to mark the half-century, ranging from exhibitions and concerts to a sunrise visit to its hilltop building. "In these 50 years, we've gone from being an artist's dream to becoming a cultural reference point in Barcelona and around the world," said foundation director Marko Daniel. The foundation traces its roots back to the early 1970s, when Miró - then living in the nearby island of Mallorca - sought to reconnect with his native city by creating a centre for contemporary art studies. His close friend, architect Josep Lluis Sert, designed the distinctive white-concrete building nestled on Montjuic hill, overlooking Barcelona. The foundation opened quietly on 10 June 1975, at Miró's request to avoid an official ceremony during the final months of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship. A more celebratory inauguration followed a year later, after the dictator's death. The anniversary celebrations kick off on Wednesday with the opening of an exhibition of photos, press clippings and architectural plans which trace the institution's evolution over the years. The foundation opened its doors at sunrise to allow visitors to experience the building bathed in the light of dawn. "Miró left us not only a building, a unique institution, and a remarkable collection, but also a way of seeing the world," said Mr Daniel. US ties explored One of the highlights of the anniversary will be the opening in October of "Miró and the United States", an exhibition examining the surrealist artist's connections with America - a relationship less documented than his ties to France. Miró visited the United States seven times between 1947 and 1968, and the show will feature works by American icons such as Louise Bourgeois, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko alongside the Spanish artist's own pieces. After its Barcelona run, the show will travel to the Phillips Collection in Washington DC in March where it will remain on display until July 2026. "This will become the most important exhibition on Miró ever held in the United States," said the foundation's director of artistic programming, Ana Ara. Next year the foundation will carry out a major reorganisation of its permanent collection, with more interpretive material added to help visitors understand how the artist conceived each piece. "We want to place the visitor right in the moment when Miró was creating these works," Ms Ara said. Miró initially drew inspiration from artists such as Vincent van Gogh or Paul Cezanne before developing his own unique style. French writer Andre Breton, leader of the surrealism movement, once called Miró "the most surrealist of us all".
Telegraph
04-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
The 10 best day trips from Barcelona
You could spend months in Barcelona without running out of new things to experience, but if you're in need of a change of pace there are plenty of alternatives – most within easy reach, thanks to the excellent local railway system. Lesser-visited medieval towns, glorious hikes and curious museums are often less than an hour away. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best day trips near Barcelona. For further inspiration, see our in-depth guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants, bars and nightlife, shopping, attractions, things to do for free and beaches. Find a day trip by type: Best for history Montserrat Monastery Come for the monastery and to listen to the celestial voices of the boys' choir, and stay for the hiking – paths scented with thyme meander over the jagged peaks revealing spectacular views. The museum has an unexpected collection of great art, including paintings by Caravaggio, Picasso, El Greco, Dalí, Miró and a host of others. Website: Area: Montserrat How to get there: take the train from Plaça Espanya to Monistrol de Montserrat (one hour), then rack railway. Tarragona In Roman times 'Tarraco' was the capital of half of Spain, and many vestiges of that period can still be seen. These include the city walls; the praetorian; the amphitheatre and the Roman circus, where chariot races were once held. The cathedral and its beautifully preserved 12th-century cloister shouldn't be missed, but leave time for a wander through its old town.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nobu Hotels Amp Up Fashion and Design Services
Room service is a given at most hotels, but now the Nobu Hotel Barcelona is adding 'dress service' to its menu. Through an alliance with the Spanish start-up Trent, guests will be able to rent or buy designer clothing, accessories and jewelry from well-known brands and emerging Spanish ones. Starting Monday, overnighters can scan a QR code to place an order or connect with the company via WhatsApp with specific questions. Their choices will be delivered to the hotel within an hour. After the garments are worn, guests leave them with the concierge, who will see to it that they are returned. Trent also has a new showroom in Barcelona for those who want to try on their rentals beforehand. More from WWD Chantecler Embarks on Capri-to-Alicudi Boat Ride With Artistic Collab Step Inside Van Cleef & Arpels' First Store in Florence Gucci Names New President for EMEA Region As is the case with the other 18 Nobu Hotels, the Barcelona locale aims to ingrain itself with the local community. Lorna Turnbull, director of marketing, said, 'For us, that is so important. Nobu is a worldwide and powerful brand. But it's been fun, discovering how we can cement Nobu into each place to give each hotel and restaurant a real link to where we are.' Nobu Hotels was created by the famed chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper with a spotlight on creating a sense of place with refined service. Nobu Hotel Barcelona is located near the Montjuïc neighborhood, where several museums are based including the Joan Miró Foundation, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary from June through March. The exhibition 'Exchanges: Miró and the United States' highlighting how American artists like Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Louise Bourgeois were influenced by Miró will be part of those festivities. For the Barcelona property, design is also being infused through a new walking tour. And at its San Sebastian 20-room retreat, there is a Balenciaga Experience that whisks travelers to the Balenciaga Museum. The Trent concept was created partially due to airlines' scaling back on passengers' baggage allowances, especially European carriers. Another incentive was driven by the many visitors who travel to Barcelona for specific events like music festivals and want to have a certain look. Access to Trent's rentals is meant to make packing easier and the chance to discover designers, whom they might not be familiar with. It is also a more sustainable option than buying an outfit that they would never wear again, Turnbull said. Nobu Hotel Barcelona liked the idea of supporting Trent's founders Laia Cusco and Alejandro Assens, and the prospect appealed to the hotel's client base, who tend to be slightly younger guests who are more into fashion and events, according to Turnbull. 'Tourism for live events is booming,' she said. Guests who are in the city for extended stays can also arrange for monthly rentals through Trent. The capital city location is one of 19 Nobu Hotels, and more are in the pipeline through 2030. Rome and Toronto openings are slated for this year, followed by Madrid, Lisbon and possibly some of the Middle East locales are expected to bow next year. Bangkok, Vietnam and other outposts in Asia are being planned. Next month, Nobu Hotel Barcelona will host the opening party for Off Sónar and it will welcome popular DJs like Elrow and DJ Tennis to headline events on specific nights. The tie-in with DJ Tennis, who is a 'big foodie,' will include his 'Munchietown' cooking club, as that aligns with Nobu's culinary reputation. Through a partnership with Barcelona Fashion Week, the property periodically has pop-up shops. In advance of Barcelona becoming the UNESCO World Capital of Architecture next year, which will coincide with the centennial anniversary of the death of the city's prized architect Antoni Gaudí, Nobu Hotel Barcelona hotel has teamed up with Barcelona Design Tours. The end result is a walking tour of the Sants neighborhood, which used to be a separate village before it was absorbed by the city. The area once housed many factories and helped to start the trade unionism movement, but it has evolved from being an industrial heartland. This summer locals will show off their style, as in years past, by having neighbors get together to decorate their respective streets in a theme for a competition that is part of the annual Sants Festival. On another front, the Nobu Hotel San Sebastian has partnered with the Balenciaga Museum in Getaria to offer guests guided tours. With 7,000 archival pieces, the museum's current exhibition 'Cristóbal Balenciaga: Technique, Material and Form' features interviews with former seamstresses who are now in their 90s. 'They talk about the experiences working for him in San Sebastian and some worked with him in Paris. They say how meticulous he was,' Turnbull said. 'One said, 'The doors closed at nine. And if you were late, you didn't get to work. So we would go to the beach.'' Ever intent on giving a global brand a sense for the city that is in, Nobu Hotel San Sebastian will be offering flower workshops to the public with a local florist and yoga classes with a local yoga instructor. The property has also teamed up with the Basque Culinary Center, which trains people and promotes Basque gastronomy. When the center flies in some of the best chefs in the world for an event, they will be hosted in the hotel. Emphasizing the importance of having locals enjoy Nobu Hotels, Turnbull said, 'We want people to know that the hotel is part of the city and it's for them as well.' Best of WWD Model and Hip Hop Fashion Pioneer Kimora Lee Simmons' Runway Career Through the Years [PHOTOS] Salma Hayek's Fashion Evolution Through the Years: A Red Carpet Journey [PHOTOS] How Christian Dior Revolutionized Fashion With His New Look: A History and Timeline
