Horacio Salgán, considered one the greatest pianists in the history of tango, will be honored on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 at the Teatro Colon of Buenos Aires by the orchestra he once conducted, now in charge of his son Cesar, reinforced with notable instrumentalists of the genre. 

Horacio Salgán, aged 95, is one of the most influential performers and composers in Tango history. 

The tribute will be held Saturday at 8.30pm and will include the ensemble of the historic bandoneon players that used to accompany Salgán: Julio Pane, Juan Jose Mosalini, Nestor Marconi and Ernesto Baffa.

The repertoire, totally arranged and supervised by the maestro himself, will include “Canaro en París”, “Gallo Ciego”, “Recuerdo”, “Ojos negros”, “El choclo”, “Tierra querida”, “El Entrerriano”, “A dos mujeres”, “Responso” “Al gran Maestro”, “Mano Brava”, “La llamo silbando”, “A fuego lento” and his verssion of “La pulpera de Santa Lucía” that has never been recorded. 

This special production was presented for the first time at the last World Tango Festival, becoming one the most outstanding moments of the event. 

Tickets will range from $ 10 to $ 60 Argentine Pesos, and will go be sale at the theater’s box office (Tucuman 1171) on the same Saturday 3rd, from 10am to 5pm.

Argentina Polo Tour, the fall tournament created six years ago by Adolfo Cambiaso and Gonzalo Pieres, presents the first stage of the year 2012, with matches that will be held at the Argentine Polo Association's fields in Pilar (AAP), and Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo (Av. Libertador and Dorrego), starting March 1st, 2012, with the participation of  eight teams up to 16 goals handicap. 

Teams: 

Zone A
La Mimosa: Stefania Annunzziata 0, Matías Coria 0, Guillermo Terrera 7, Bartolomé Castagnola 9.
Puro La Manada: Giampaolo Guarnieri 0, Marcos Araya 6, Ollie Cudmore 4, Federico Von Potobsky 6.
La Ginevra: Luca d Orazio 0, Juan Zubiaurre 3 Tito Ruiz Guiñazu 7, Santiago Solari 6.
Sainte Mesme: Robert Strom 3, Christian Nordheimer 5, Gonzalo Von Wernick 7, Birger Strom 1.

Zone B
Murus Sanctus: Corinne Ricard 0, Pablo Llorente 5, Facundo Sola 7, Ramiro García Dagna 4.
Black Storm: Jean Marc Tyberg 0, Clemente Zavaleta 6, Francisco Bensadon 9, Mateo Vallejos 1.
El Remanso: Felipe Velcherino 2, Felipe Llorente 2, George Hanbury 4, Jaime García Huidobro 8.
Equus - Los Machitos: Peter Silling 0, Naco Taverna 6, Guillermo Willington 7, Tomás Garbarini.

Puma Urban Art 2012 will be the meeting point for the best national and international urban artists. An original event, dedicated to contemporary art and the new trends on street art around the world, that will take place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 of March, 2012, at Centro Cultural Recoleta.

This fifth edition of the Festival will feature the presence of international artists, like Jeremy Fish and Ron English, and national artists Nico Sarsotti, Ruidismo, Valentino Tettamanti, and Kustom Brothers.

One of the features this year will be the projection of films and documentaries related to the Urban Art movement, including "Neckface x Isaiah Seret – Born Under A Bad Sign", and "Vigilante Vigilante".

Exhibitions of national and international works; graffiti 3D; panel talks; national and international bands, live painting; conferences, are some of the activities programmed for the event.

Location: Centro Cultural Recole. Junin 1930.
Dates and Hours: March 3 and 4, 2011 - 1 pm till midnight.
Free entrance. Limited capacity

More information: Puma Urban Art website

The second edition of the Festival Shakespeare Buenos Aires, organized by the Ministry of Culture of Buenos Aires, will take place from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 of February, 2012. During those nine days the public will be able to enjoy various performances and free activities which honor the great William Shakespeare. 

Programming includes shows (theater, music, dance, puppetry, opera), workshops taught by international and local guests, and participative activities such as the Medieval Village. In addition, figures from the local scene and international artists and groups such as Filarmonica Clowns from Italy, Daniel Kelly, Penny Cherns and Stanley Gontarski wiill exchange experiences, knowledge and present their shows and works with the aim of disseminating the author's classics and expand the cultural and tourist offer in the city of Buenos Aires . 

The Festival is free, but for some shows, because of the capacity of the venue, tickets must be picked up in advance at the Casa de la Cultura, Avenida de Mayo 575, starting Wednesday, November 8. The master class by experts Penny Cherns, Stanley Gontarski, Laura Silva, Sergio Amigo and Carlos Rivas, to be held on Tuesday 14th at 7pm in the Auditorium The Aleph at Recoleta Cultural Center and the rest of the activities don’t require tickets. In each case, entrance is subject to the capacity of each room, in order of arrival.

At The Medieval Village, that will be set at Buenos Aires Polo Circo, the public can time travel into the past and participate in activities typical of the era, such as: calligraphy workshops, fashion design, bow and arrow shooting, fencing, cooking, music and dance renaissance. 

Coinciding with Valentine's Day, a special screening of the film Shakespeare in Love will be presented on Tuesday 14 at the amphitheater of Parque Centenario. 

Venues: 

Amphitheater Parque Centenario: Av Angel Gallardo and Leopoldo Marechal, entry on Lillo (Caballito)

Buenos Aires Polo Circo: Avenue Juan de Garay and Combate de los Pozos (Parque Patricios)

Centro Cultural Recoleta: Junín 1930 (Recoleta) 

Hispanic-American Art Museum Isaac Fernández Blanco: Suipacha 1422 (Retiro) 

Direccion General de Museos (Ex Munich) Av de los Italianos 851 (Puerto Madero) 

IMPA. La Fabrica Cultural Center: Querandíes 4290, between Pringles and Palestina (Almagro)

Culture Club Belisario: Av Corrientes 1624 (San Nicolas) 

Cafe Rivas: Estados Unidos 302, corner Balcarce (San Telmo) 

For more information, visit Festival Shakespeare Buenos Aires official website

The most important event for the Argentine fashion industry, BAFWeek, brings together the most established brands in the fashion world and the independent designers, for the launching of their Fall/Winter 2012 collections.

For this edition top designers and renowned brands as: Tramando, Muaa by Mariano Toledo, Evangelina Bomparola, 12-na, Chocolate, Mapa Diseno, Desiderata, Prüne, Amores Trash Couture, Rapsodia, Juana de Arco, Uma, Vicki Otero, Cora Groppo, Garza Lobos, Hermanos Estebecorena, Como quieres que te quiera, Wanama, Grupo 134, MVZ, Fabian Zitta, among many others, have confirmed their presence.

BAFWeek 2012 will feature an average of 8 daily fashion shows, and around 25 showrooms where designers will showcase their creations in an exclusive space, including accessories, shoes, bags, jewels, underwear, and men's and women's clothes. 

BAFWeek supports University of Buenos Aires (UBA) students through the Seed Plot contest, so they can show their first collection together with the famous designers.

Dates: February 28, 29. March 1, 2 of 2012

Location: La Rural Exhibition Center, Pabellón Amarillo. Av. Sarmiento 2704

Opening times: from 2 pm to 10 pm

Entry fee: $ 30 Pesos. Tickets on sale at the venue 2 pm to 8 pm. Having a ticket does not guarantee the access to the runway rooms, as this is subject to capacity.

BAFWeek official website.

Every weekend of February, from Saturday 4th until February 26th, and including Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st (Carnival Holidays), the “Carnaval Porteño 2012” (Buenos Aires Carnival) will take place at different neighborhoods, with the participation of 17 thousand artists, 119 "murgas" (carnival bands), and over one thousand drums and percussion instruments.

The parades will be held from 7 PM to 2 AM on Saturdays, and from 7 PM to 12 AM on Sundays and Carnival Holidays (February 20 and 21).

Murgas and carnival are the artistic expressions of the marginal neighborhoods, their songs and urban folk customs. The lyrics of these songs are called "criticas", and combine the social denunciation with humor and dancing. What identifies the "murga porteña" from others are their costumes (frock coat, gloves, top hat, and stick), the drums with cymbals, and the various traditional rhythms used to differentiate every neighborhood.

Where to watch the parades:

All the events are free of charge.

The Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires and the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice present the show "El Mundo de la Luna" (Il Mondo della Luna - The World in the Moon), an introduction to the Opera for children and adults alike, through a unique show with Venetian puppets and Argentine artists, inspired in the Drama Giocoso by Carlo Goldoni, with music by Baldassarre Galuppi.

The Academy of Fine Arts of Venice - symbol of the Italian artistic education since 1750 -  has lent a Venetian "teatrino" with 22 large-size baroque puppets, to mount this show in Buenos Aires.

The show will be offered every Sunday until February 19, 2012, at 6:00pm, with free entrance, at the Botanical Garden (Av. Santa Fe 3951).

Organized by The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards, this International Biennial of Artistic and Documental Photography will be held at Centro Cultural Borges between January 19 and February 27, 2012.

This exhibition, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Argentina and the Embassies of Austria, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Peru, Finland Germany and Belgium, in benefit of Save the Children and FLENI foundations, will be one of the most important photographich events in Latin America.

The main focus of the biennial is on works by women from 40 different countries, the selected images awarded in the1st and 2nd edition of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Jacob Riis Award, 1st and 2nd edition of the Pollux Award, and other competitions organized by WPGA during 2010 and 2011.

In total the exhibition will consist of  310 works from 210 artists.

The works, that have been donated by the artists, will be auctioned at the MALBA (Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires) on February 14th, 7pm, benefiting: Save the Children and the Foundation for the Comprehensive Treatment of Children Neurological Diseases (FLENI).

On January 20, 21 and 22, at 7pm there will be talks by artists awarded at the Biennial, on the development of their work and their experience as photographers, with projection of their works.

On Tuesday 24, at 7pm, singer León Gieco will perform in benefit of the Biennial, among other activities.

Centro Cultural Borges. Viamonte 525

Opening hours: Mondays through Saturdays, from 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sundays, from 12:00pm to 9:00pm

MALBA: Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415

More information: www.thegalaawards.net

The fixture of football (soccer) matches in Buenos Aires for the first half of the year 2012 has been announced. It comprises the matches in the National Tournament, "Torneo Clausura 2012", the international tournament "Copa Libertadores", and the Qualifying matches for Brazil Wold Cup 2014 .

Don't miss the opportunity of attending one of these games the easiest and safest way, with a service that includes tickets, transfers, and bilingual host, provided by the leading company in football tours. Contact me and make your reservation.

From January 6 until February 29, 2012, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires presents "Buenos Aires Playa" (Buenos Aires Beach), an oasis for those residents and visitors who have to spend the summer in the city, in the style of the artificial sand beaches installed in Paris, Rome, Tokio, Berlín, Bruselles, Ámsterdam, Viena, and Prague.

There are two beaches, one in the North of the city, in Parque de los Niños, and one in the South, in Parque Roca where, from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm, visitors will enjoy an integral program of entertainment for the whole family: artificial sand beaches with sunshades and beach chairs; cultural activities like musical shows and book readings; water fountains and showers to cool down from the heat; sport activities and inflatable playgrounds for kids; magic and puppet shows; food courts; among many other activities and services. Each park will have sports coordinators in aerobics, beach volley, football-tennis and other popular sports. All the activities are free of charge.

Infants have to be permanently accompanied by adults. Entering the parks with alcoholic drinks and/or pets is not allowed.  
Free entrance.
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm.

How to get there:

Parque de los Niños (North):
Nuñez (on the shore of Río de la Plata where Avenue General Paz ends).
Bus 28, or by car through avenida Cantilo.

Parque Roca (South):
Escalada and 27 de Febrero.
Buses 91 and 115.

As a complement to this program, several parks in Buenos Aires will be transformed into solariums with free sun chairs and sunshades, including Parque Las Heras (Palermo); Plaza Naciones Unidas (near the Law School, Recoleta); Plaza Roque Sáenz Peña, Parque Rivadavia, Plaza Boedo, Plaza Almagro, and Plaza Monte Castro.

 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."