The prestigious Teatro Colón of Buenos Aires has announced its program for the 2012 Season:

OPERA

March 14, 15, 17 and 18

SAINT MARK'S  PASSION (2000)

Music: Osvaldo Golijov

Based on the Gospel of Saint Mark, the Psalms, Jeremiah’s Lamentations, and Spanish poetry. Commissioned by Internationale Bachakademie for the 250th anniversary of Bach’s death. (premiere in Argentina)
Musical direction: Maria Guinand
Choir: Schola Cantorum of Venezuela
Soloists: Virginia Largo, Ana María Raga and Elizabeth Maldonado
Orchestra “La Pasión” (metals and percussion)
Orchestra of Teatro Colón (strings)

April 22, 24, 26, 28. May 2 and 4

THE FORCE OF DESTINY
Music: Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
Musical Direction: Renato Palumbo
Stage Direction: Hugo de Ana
Main characters: Dimitria Theodossiou, Angela Marambio, Ricardo Massi, Emmanuel Villarosa, Lucas Salsi, Fabian Veloz, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Paola Battaglia, Agnes Zwierko. María Lujan Mirabelli, Luis Gaeta, Luciano Miotto

May 29. June 1, 3, and 5
OEDIPE
Music: George Enescu
Libretto: Edmond Fleg

Musical direction: Ira Levin
Stage Direction: Alex Olle
Coproduction of Teatro Colón with Royal Theater of La Monnaie of Brussels, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, and Ópera Nacional de París.
Main characters: Andrew Schröder, Natasha Petrinsky, Robert Bork

June 12, 15, 17, 19
RINALDO
Music: Georg Friedrich Händel
Libretto: Giacomo Rossi
Musical direction: Martín Haselboeck
Main characters: Franco Fagioli, Verónica Cangemi, Inessa Galante, Daniel Taylor, Victor Torres

July 22, 24, 26, 28
ERWARTUNG
Music: Karol Szymanowski
Libretto: Felix Dörmann

Musical Direction: Baldur Brönimann
Stage Direction: Michal Znaniecki
Main characters: Ewa Biegas, Roy Stevens, Christian Baumgärtel

August 28 and 30. September 1 and 2
I DUE FIGARO
O sia Il soggetto di una commedia
Music: Saverio Mercadante
Libretto: Felice Romani
Musical direction: Riccardo Muti
Stage Direction, Emilio Sagi
Main characters: Antonio Poli, Asude Karayavuz, Rosa Feola, Annalisa Stroppa, Mario Cassi, Eleonora Buratto, Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani, Omar Montanari
Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini
Philharmonia Chor Wien

Choir’s Maestro: Walter Zeh
Pianoforte: Speranza Scappucci

September 25, 28, 30. October 3, 5
LA CENERENTOLA
Music: Gioachino Rossini
Libretto: Giacopo Ferretti

Musical direction: Bruno Campanella
Stage Direction: Sergio Renán
Main characters: Serena Malfi, Kenneth Tarver, Gustavo De Gennaro, Aris Argiris, Carlo Lepore, Luciano Miotto, Marisú Pavón, Florencia Machado, Mónica Sardi, Carlos Esquivel, Fernando Radó

November 27, 30. December 2, 4
COLON-RING
Compact version in one sole performance of 7 hours of The Ring of the Nibelung, in the eve of the bicentennary of birth of Richard Wagner
World Premiere
Musical direction: Julien Salemkour
Stage direction: Katharina Wagner

BALLET

April 1, 3, 4, 7, 8
CARMEN
Choreography: Mauricio Wainrot
Music: Georges Bizet
Soloists and first dancers of Teatro Colón
Orchestra of Teatro Colón
Director: Luis Gorelik

July 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
LA SYLPHIDE
Choreography: Pierre Lacotte, according to Filippo Taglioni
Music: Jean-Madeleine Schneitzhoeffer
Soloists and first dancers of Teatro Colón
Orchestra of Teatro Colón
Director: Javier Logioia

July 21, 22, 28, 29
GRADUATION BALL
Winter Holidays family program
Choreography: according to David Lichine
Music: Johann Strauss
Soloists and first dancers of Teatro Colón

August 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Choreography: Karl Burnett
Music: Piotr Ilich Tchaikovski
Soloists and first dancers of Teatro Colón
Orchestra of Teatro Colón
Director: Luis Gorelik

September 12
INTERNATIONAL GALA
Soloists and first dancers of Teatro Colón with world figures

October 14, 16, 17, 18, 29, 20
NEOCLASSICAL TRILOGY II
Margarita and Armando
Choreography: Frederick Ashton
Music: Franz Liszt
Fuga Técnica
Choreography: Eric Frederic
Music: Alexander Balanescu
Before Nightfall
Choreography: Nils Christe
Music: Bohuslav Martinu

Soloists and first dancers of Teatro Colón
Orchestra of Teatro Colón
Director: Carlos Bertazza

December 21, 22, 23, 36, 27, 28
ONIEGUIN
Choreography: John Cranko
Music: Piotr Ilich Tchaikovski
Soloists and first dancers of Teatro Colón
Orchestra of Teatro Colón
Director: Javier Logioia

CONCERTS:

The Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Maestro Enrique Arturo Diemecke, will offer a series of 16 concerts on Thursdays at 8:30 pm, starting on March 8, 2012 The invited directors will be: Marcello Panni, Gunter Neuhold, Isaac Karabtchevsky, Carlos Bertazza, Jorma Panula, Tao Fan, with the participation of the outstanding soloists: Nadia Salerno Sonnenberg, Julian Lloyd Webber, Haochen Zhang, Saleem Abboud Ashkar, Susan Graham, Leonard Elschenboich, Akiko Suwanai, Ilia Gringolts, Nestor Marconi, Sarah Chang, Hilary Hahn, Mariano Rey, Fernando Chiappero, Gabriel La Rocca, Fernando Ciancio, Natalie Clein, Nelson Goerner.

Domingos de Camara (Chamber Sundays): Series of FREE concerts one Sunday of every month, at 11am, by renowned Argentinian chamber groups at the main concert hall of Teatro Colon.

Free tickets must be picked up from the previous Friday and up to 2 hours before every performance. Only 2 tickets per person will be handed, limited to the theater's capacity.

ABONO DEL BICENTENARIO (BICENTENARY CONCERT SERIES): A total of 8 concerts that will bring together some of the most resounding figures in the season:

April 11: ANGELA GHEORGHIU - ROBERTO ALAGNA 

May 8: BACH ACADEMIE STUTTGART - HELMUTH RILLING
May 26: LANG LANG

June 19: EVGUENI KISSIN
August 21: ANDRÁS SCHIFF
September 4: ARCADI VOLODOS
October 10: TRIO GUARNERI OF PRAGA
November 13: RENÉE FLEMING

The 2012 Season will come complete with a series of extraordinary concerts, the program by the CETC (Centro de Experimentacion del Teatro Colon), and ISA (Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon).

Tickets on sale at:
Theater's box office: Tucuman 1171
From Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm - (no show days).
From Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm - (show days).
Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Or through:
https://www.tuentrada.com/colon/Online/

For more information, visit Teatro Colon official website.

On Sunday, December 18th, 2011, starting at 6:00 pm, the seventh edition of "Master de Pilotos" will take place on Avenida 9 de Julio, near the Obelisco. This competition gathers the best drivers in the main racecar categories in Argentina.

16 drivers have confirmed their presence, to compete for the "Maestro de Maestros" crown: Matías Rossi, Leonel Pernía, Esteban Guerrieri, Emiliano Spataro, José María López, Norberto Fontana, Juan Manuel Silva, Gastón Mazzacane, Emanuel Moriatis, Mariano Werner, Fabián Yannantuoni, Agustín Canapino,. Juan Manuel “Cochito” López, Facundo Ardusso,Josito Di Palma and Mauro Giallombardo.

Apart from the race, the drivers will offer shows with TC, TC200, rally cars, among other activities, starting at 6:00pm.

Entrance is free.

The great Argentine dancer Iñaki Urlezaga, together with his company Ballet Concierto, presents a performance at La Manzana de las Luces, Peru 272, on Sunday, December 18th, 2011, at 8:00 pm.

Iñaki and his Ballet will be joined by Orquesta de Tango de La Plata, to present the special show "Siempre Buenos Aires". This show has been presented in Mexico, at the National Auditorium to more than 8,000 people, and at the Tribeca Theatre in New York, acclaimed with a standing ovation.

This production features a Tango choreography with the personal touch of Iñaki Urlezaga.

Free entrance.

The Final of the 70th Argentine Horseball Championship (Abierto Argentino de Pato), the most important tournament of this sport in Argentina, will take place on Sunday, December 18th, 2011 in Palermo.

The preliminary stages took place at the Campo Argentino de Pato, in Campo de Mayo (Buenos Aires), with the participation of the best players of our national sport. The final, on Sunday, December 18th, will be held at the Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo at 4:00 pm.

Horseball ("Pato") is a traditional Argentine equestrian sport, practiced since the beginning of the XVII century, and declared  as a Argentina's National Sport in 1953.
 
Campo Argentino de Polo: Av. del Libertador & Dorrego, Palermo. 
Tickets on sale at the stadium.

The Chinese New Year 4710 will be celebrated at the Chinese Quarter and for the first time also at Barrancas de Belgrano. On this occasion, to mark the Year of the Dragon, a special two-day celebration will be held, on Saturday, January 21, 2012, from 3pm to 10pm, and Sunday, January 22, from 10am to 8pm.

This is the most important celebration in the Chinese culture. 100 food and cultural stands distributed along Barrancas de Belgrano and the streets Arribeños and Mendoza will provide a festive, attractive and memorable environment for visitors. 

Two stages will be mounted. The main one with large screens, lights and sound will be located in Las Barrancas de Belgrano, Plaza de la Glorieta. And the second stage within Chinatown. The mega event will feature the traditional Dragon Dance and Lion Dance, inaugurating this year the "Dragon Corridor"; Oriental martial arts; traditional Mulan dances; Tea Ceremony; Chinese calligraphy exhibition; Origami; as well as Tango Shows with live orchestra and international couples made ​​up by Argentine and Oriental dancers; choirs of young Argentine singers who will sing Chinese songs and Chinese artists who will sing traditional and modern themes; 2 Korean and Japanese percussion (taiko) groups; Chinese horoscope. 

The celebration will culminate on Sunday evening when Argentina and Asia simultaneously toast for a prosperous Year of the Dragon and together on stage sing the Official Song "The descendants of the Dragon."

On Saturday, December 17th, 2011, in the streets of San Telmo, between 3 PM and 10 PM, 20 carnival groups ("comparsas") with over 1,600 Argentinian and Uruguayan artists in their colorful costumes,  will present the "Llamada de Candombe de San Telmo", a parade of drums, music and dance. 

The "llamada" is traditional Uruguayan event in which the "comparsas" are called in to play the "candombe", a musical genre originated in Africa and brought to South American in the XVII and XVIII centuries by the African slaves.

At Pasaje San Lorenzo there will be 4 bonfires for the tuning of the drums, that will start at 3 PM.

The parade starts at Defensa & av. Independencia, and each of the 20 "comparsas" will take 1 hour to cover the 8 blocks until Defensa & Caseros, at the Amphitheater of Paque Lezama.

This event is totally free of charge.

In case of rain it will be postponed to Sunday 18th, on Bolivar Street.

"La Gran Milonga Nacional", an open air event with live orchestras and street tango dancing on Avenida de Mayo, will take place this year on Saturday, December 17th, 2011.

The celebration, which every year occupies that traditional Avenida de Mayo from Plaza de Mayo to 9 de Julio Av. is organized by the National Tango Academy and the Association of Promoters of Tourism, Hotel Business and Gastronomy (APTHGRA).

La Gran Milonga Nacional will start at 8:00 pm, with three central stages in the corners of Avenida de Mayo and Bernardo de Irigoyen, Piedras and Perú, and other smaller ones along the avenue, and the audience will be able to dance on the street to the music of live orchestras and singers.

The Argentina Tennis Cup, sponsored by Peugeot (Copa Argentina de Tenis Peugeot 2011), will be  played this year from December 15th to December 18th, 2011. The matches will take place on the central court of Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, the traditional venue for Argentine Tennis.

This ninth edition of the Peugeot Argentina Tennis Cup will have the presence of some of the best national and international tennis players:

On the last day of the tournament, Gaston Gaudio will play his farewell match against Mariano Zabaleta.

The Super Six format will be implemented again in this tournament:

Dates: December 15, 16, 17, 18, 2011, 7:00 PM

Location: Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Av. Olleros 1510, Palermo.

Tickets: On sale through Ticketek Argentina www.ticketek.com.ar

At the International Artisans' Fair ("Feria Internacional de Artesanias de Buenos Aires") over 500 craftsmen from Argentina and Latin America will show their talent, creativity and skills, with live demonstrations of their work.

A unique opportunity for visitors to purchase exclusive handicraft pieces at the best prices, while learning about cultural and artistic expressions from Argentina and Latin America.

Dates: December 6 through December 11, 2011.
Location: La Rural Exhibition Center. Av. Sarmiento 2704
Opening hours: 3 PM to 10 PM
Entry fee: AR$ 20. Children under 8, free

The city of Buenos Aires celebrates the National Tango Day on Friday, December 9th, 2011, with an open air, free concert at the Planetarium (Av. Figueroa Alcorta and Sarmiento) starting at 7:00 PM.

Some of the greatest tango artists will get together at the giant stage, like: Raúl Lavié, José “Pepe” Colángelo, Amelita Baltar, Pablo Agri, Juan José Mosalini, María Graña with Esteban Morgado, Raúl Garello, Horacio Ferrer, Alberto Podestá, Juan Carlos Godoy, Nicolás Ledesma, Jairo.

The Tango Dancing will also be present with Juan Carlos Copes together with Johana Copes, Gloria y Eduardo, the energy of  Corporación tango, and Ana María Stekelman with her company Tangokinesis.

There will be 8000 seats available to the public, and two large screens will be installed for easy viewing of the show. 

The Tango, declared by UNESCO as World's Cultural Heritage, celebrates its day on December 11th, in commemoration of the birth of Carlos Gardel and Julio De Caro.

The Embassy of India in Argentina presents the Festival of India, that will take place between December 3rd and 13th, 2011. The Festival is intended to promote and portrait the Indian culture in our country.

Activities:

Photo Exhibition at Recoleta Cultural Center

Exhibition and sale of handycrafts from India and live demonstration of by Indian artisans. Centro Cultural Borges, every day from 12pm to 8pm.

Gastronomic Festival. Sheraton Hotel, every night, from 8pm (by appointment)

Folk and classic dances at Centro Cultural Borges

Movie Festival. Auditorium Centro Cultural Borges

Seminars on Indian Culture, Literature, Yoga, Ayurveda, etc,. every afternoon at Centro Cultural Borges

Golf Tournament "India Cup" on November 15, San Isidro Jockey Club

Polo Cup between Indian and Argentine players, on December 12. San Isidro Jockey Club

 

On Sunday, December 4th, in collaboration with the Government of Buenos Aires, a show of Indian Manipuri dances and a Yoga Rave will be presented on Av. de Mayo and Peru, at 6:00 pm.

On Saturday, November 26th, 2011, the City of Buenos Aires presents a new edition of The Bookstore Night, with free activities in over 50 bookstores. This traditional event represents the publishing industry and pays tribute to bookstores and booksellers in the City, recognizing the important role of the sector. In addition, this edition involves bookstores in different neighborhoods of Buenos Aires with activities in their premises, and the traditional festival on Avenida Corrientes.

UNESCO has named Buenos Aires as "Book Capital of the World 2011" in recognition of the quality of its programs to promote the dissemination of books, encouraging reading and expanding the publishing industry.

At 8:00 pm, on the main stage on Avenida Corrientes and Talcahuano, the event will start with a concert for kids by "Caracachumba". At 9:00 pm, singers Sandra Mihanovich and Julia Zenko will offer a show in honor to songwriter Maria Elena Walsh. And at 11:00 pm, singer Antonio Birabent will be in charge of the closing show.

During the Bookstore Night, the vehicular traffic will be closed on Avenida Corrientes from Talcahuano up to Callao, where multiple cultural activities will take place simultaneously in bookstores, bars, theaters and on the streets. 

San Telmo will take part in the Bookstore Night with activities from 3:00 pm: Guided tours and storytelling, readings and performances by established and emerging authors.

In Palermo the Bookstore Night starts at 3:30 pm, with activities for children, storytelling and talks for adults.

The event is totally free of charge and it's not suspended for rain. Click here for the complete program (in Spanish only).

Manzana de las Luces is the name of the historic block of buildings comprised by the streets Alsina, Moreno, Bolivar and Peru, in the neighborhood of San Telmo. It has historically been, and still is, home to major historical, cultural, educational and religious institutions. 

One of its most outstanding features is the presence of a mysterious and enigmatic network of tunnels built between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They formed a network linking through the underground, five meters deep, churches, public buildings and the Fort.

All the Manzana de las Luces has been protected as a National Historic Monument for the number of foundational events that occurred there, for the relevance of its architectural heritage, and for hosting numerous institutions that were born within its walls through nearly four centuries of history. 

To celebrate the 350th anniversary of this important landmark, a number of activities have been programmed for Saturday, November 19th, 2011 (main entrance on Peru 272). 

PROGRAM: 

a) Patio de la Procuraduría

6:00 pm: Regimiento de Patricios marching band 

6:30 pm: Lyrical concert - “Lirica Lado B” 

7:00 pm Suiteof Gluck’s Opera Alceste, Chamber Orchestra of San Telmo 

7: 40 pm: “Achaiva da Ponte”, Celtic Music 

8.30 pm: Live music and cinema 

9:00 pm: Toba Rock 

10.30 pm: Latin salsa “Ojala” 

11.30 pm: Melodic rock “Chinelas Persas” 

In the intervals, theatrical representations of facts in the Argentine history 

b) House of Representatives 

7.00 pm and 

8:30 pm: “A JOURNEY IN TIME”, theatrical staging of our history 

10:30 pm: “Ars Continua” 

11:30 pm: Theatrical play 

In other spaces: Exhibition of works from the “Manzana de las Luces contest”, tango lessons, permanent art collection, theater.

The 13th International Show Jumping Competition CSIOW Haras El Capricho will take place on November 23- 27, 2011, in the town of Capilla del Señor, 80 km North of  Buenos Aires. This is one of the most important Show Jumping competitions in Latin America, sponsored by the Argentine Equestrian Federation and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

The contest will take place in 2 of the 4 international level courses of El Capricho, with fences brought specially from the Olympic games.

Friday, November 25: Nations Cup

Saturday, November 26: Speed Derby

Sunday, November 27: World Cup Competition/Grand Prize

As every year, there will be live music shows at the stage located next to the main jumping course. On Saturday, November 26, Teen Angels, and on Sunday, November 27, at 12 noon, Los Tekis will be presenting a show with free entrance.

Haras El Capricho has top level infrastructure and services to enjoy a nice day in the countryside for the whole family:

All the activities are free of charge, and are not suspended for rain.

For more information, online results, general rules and courses of the competition, access map, and schedules, visit Haras El Capricho official website.
Don´t miss the opportunity of attending this world class event. Contact me if you want to  arrange for  private transportation.

As every in November, springtime in Buenos Aires, the city is full of lavender clouds of jacaranda trees in bloom. They are all over the city, making this time of the year a special one to admire these beautiful trees.

The first specimen of jacarandá, a tree original from the North-west of Argentina, was planted in Buenos Aires in 1875 with the inauguration of the 3 de Febrero Park, and it was then spread all over the city for its ornamental value in the different plantation programs. Some of the most beautiful specimens can be admired in Plaza San Martin, the Botanical Garden, along Avenida Figueroa Alcorta and Avenida Libertador, Plaza Italia, Plaza Alemania, Recoleta.

Those who visit Buenos Aires in November will be lucky to witness this beautiful natural spectacle, and for those who can´t visit during this month, here are some of my recent pictures: