Ballet Grupo CorpoAlthough George Sand may have had to haul Chopin’s piano across the wilds during her ‘Winter in Mallorca’, finding musical respite here during the milder months is now somewhat less energetic. Island life in the winter season is enriched with a variety of cultural activities, local musical events and superb concerts for residents and visitors to attend.
This autumn, the Palma Auditorium hosts its 22nd Operatic Season which runs from 14th – 17th November with a schedule including Verdi’s ‘La Traviatta’, Mozart’s ‘Don Giovani’, Puccini’s, La Boheme’ and Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’. You may also catch the rest of Mallorca’s Ballet Season featuring the Grupo Corpo, Brazil’s most respected Dance Company on 29th September and the Ballet Opera of Düsseldorf on 2nd February 2008. All tickets can be booked via the Auditorium Box Office.
Coinciding with the beginning of the winter season, a cultural programme entitled "A Winter in Mallorca" begins in November and runs through until April. Organised by the Balearic Institute of Tourism, it features a wide range of concerts and activities offered free of charge throughout the island’s resorts, from classical music concerts, to cycle races, to folklore demonstrations. Featuring internationally known performers as well as local musicians, this year’s itinerary will be available at the tourism office in Palma from October.
ViolinIf you would like to combine historical and musical interest, the 8th International Organ Festival held in Palma’s Cathedral hosts concerts every Sunday in October at 19.30h. This will also coincide with ‘The Historical Organs of Mallorca Week’ running from 6th – 13th October, with performances from international organists at various parish churches in Palma and across the island, including Sa Pobla, Binissalem, Porreres and Santanyi. The exact schedules will be shown in the local press the week prior to this event.
Most villages in Mallorca hold their annual music festivals in the summer months. Bunyola like to do things differently, coming to life in the autumn. This year their “XXIII Music Festival of Bunyola” will include ten weeks of concerts and recitals featuring local and international musicians. The festival commences on Friday 28th September with the Balearic Symphony Orchestra performing at the local church in the village. Each subsequent Saturday evening offers everything from piano recitals from Ramon Coll and Miquel Farré, to a performance by Bunyola’s own soprano, Maria Jose Perelló. These are due to take place at 20.45h at the ‘casa de cultura’ near to the main square. The full programme is available on their website