Basque culture offers us many activities in April 2024 in the month of World Art Day, which has been celebrated every April 15th since 2019. It is created by the need to support the development of art as a means to achieve a more developed, free and peaceful world.

For Basques it is very important because April 26th was the bombing of the Basque city of Guernica, and coincidentally also on April 8, Picasso, who immortalized the suffering of that people in his famous painting, dies. The photo on the cover of this post corresponds to a painting by the Basque sculptor Basterretxea called “Gernika 50-1”, from 1986th. You can see the exhibition ”Néstor Basterretxea. Design and architecture” at the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao from February 28th to May 26th. This year marks 100 years since his birth and 10 years since his death.

Juan José Díaz de Espada y Fernández de Landa was born on April 20th in Arroyabe, and went down in history by becoming one of the precursors of Cuban identity, during his period as bishop of Havana.

The Itzulia Basque Country is the Cycling Tour of the Basque Country. This year it is from April 1st to 6th, passing through 26 mountain passes in the 3 Basque provinces. It leaves from Irun, Kanbo, Ezpeleta, Alsasu, Etxarri Aranatz, Legutio, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Amorebieta-etxano and arrives in Eibar.

 

Enjoy Basque culture activities in San Sebastian and Gipuzkoa in April 2024

  • Exhibition “Maeght Universe”. Works by Chillida and other artists such as Georges Braqué or Alexander Calder, inspired by the merchant Aimé Maeght and his wife Marguerite. Chillida Leku Museum, in Hernani. From December 2nd, 2023 to April 14th, 2024.
  • “Jesús Uriarte. Chillida lanean” exhibition. Photographic exhibition about Chillida and his work, according to his friend and collaborator Uriarte. Artegunea Hall of Kutxa Fundazioa. Tabakalera. From March 15th to June 30th.
  • Chillida / Balenciaga – Fold the shape. Within the framework of the centenary of Eduardo Chillida. Guipuzcoans, friends and with a common philosophical base between the sculptor of air and the couturier of space. In Chillida Leku and Cristóbal Balenciaga museum. From March 22nd to January 9th, 2025.
  • Andoni Mercero, Alfonso Sebastián. Sonatas for violin + clave. Ciclo J.S. Bach. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. April 3rd.
  • The site of my recreation: homage to Antonio Vega. Revive Antonio’s music and songs, with his original band and close friends and collaborators. Kursaal Auditorium April 19th.
  • Basterretxea in Irún (1957-1975) exhibition. Focused on his most experimental artistic production. Menchu Gal Room of the Irun City Council. From April 19th to July 21st.
  • RICDIN-RICDON – AuFur & EnMesures (France). Marionette theater (in Spanish). TOPIC, Toulouse. April 27th.
  • Composer Abel Paúl together with the German ensemble Ensemble Ascolta. XIV Circuit of Contemporary Music. San Telmo Museum April 28th.
  • Christian Zacharias, piano. Tracked by composers such as Scarlatti, Couperin, Poulenc, Haydn and Schubert. Kursaal Auditorium April 28th.
  • XXVII International Dance Day Gala. Igor Calonge and Oihana Vesga, JAC Ballet, Jon Vallejo (Dresden), Odei Iriarte, Chihiro Tamai and Manuel Sánchez (Kiev ballet), Royal Professional Conservatory of Dance Mariemma, Compagnie illicite Bayonne Fabio López, Elephant in the Black Box contemporary company …Victoria Eugenia Theater. April 28th.

 

Basque culture in Bilbao and Biscay 

  • Van Gogh Experience. 360 projections and virtual reality through Van Gogh’s paintings. NextMuseum. From February 9th to April 9th.
  • Giovanni Anselmo: Beyond the horizon. One of the povera artists, he approaches nature to rediscover its physical and energetic potential. 40 works, including photographs, projections, drawings, sculptures, as well as works made in situ. Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. From February 9th to May 15th.
  • Signs and Objects: Pop Art from the Guggenheim Collection. In addition to historical pieces from the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the exhibition will include a selection of new work by contemporary artists exploring the legacy of pop. From February 16th to September 19th.
  • ”Néstor Basterretxea. Design and architecture”. Great sculptor and one of the innovators of Basque art of the second half of the 20th century. Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao. From February 28th to May 26th.
  • Candlelight: Tribute to ABBA (Musbika String Quartet) in the Church of the Incarnation) and Tribute to Coldplay in the Bilbao Society. April 6th and 12th.
  • Pablo López in concert. Turn 10th anniversary of the musical career of the Malaga singer-songwriter. Always and new songs. Euskalduna Palace – Auditorium. April 13th.
  • Zeid Fest Gaztea. The best of the current music scene in the Basque Country: Izaro, ZOO, Bulego, others. BEC of Barakaldo. April 13th.
  • 20 ways to read a 2onett. Musicians Maite Larburu and Beñat Barandiaran and writer Harkaitz Cano. Poetry and music in Basque. Arriaga Theater. April 17th.
  • Die ersten Menschen. The First Humans, opera by Rudi Stephan (1887-1915). Arriaga Theater. April 18th to 20th.
  • Evocations: “Ode to joy”. Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Classical music. Euskalduna – Auditorium. April 21st.
  • At your side. A musical with the life of the group Los Secretos. Arriaga Theater. April 23rd.
  • Mozart / Bruckner. Basque Country Symphony Orchestra. Marie Jacquot, principal guest conductor of the Vienna Symphony. Markus Schirmer, piano. Main Theater. April 26th.
  • Mikel Izal: “Fear and Paradise” tour. Vocalist and composer of Izal, one of the most important independent pop rock musical groups on our national scene. Euskalduna Palace – Auditorium. April 27th.

 

Basque culture events in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Alava in April 2024

  • Story competition about the sculpture ‘Araba’ by Nestor Basterretxea. Bronze replica on the summit of Aratz, missing for 20 years. Asparrena Town Hall. From February 13th to April 12th.
  • Child from Elche: Flamenco. Mausoleum of celebration, love and death. Key figure of contemporary flamenco. Principal Theater. April 12th.
  • Luis Aramburu Big Bands and Jesús Guridi Conservatories. Jazz waves. Jesús Guridi Conservatory of Music. April 16th.
  • Borodin Quartet, Varvara. Described by Australia’s Daily Telegraph as the “Russian Quartet of the Masters”. Principal Theater. April 17th.
  • Querencia, the new show from Antonio Najarro’s dance company. Interpretive and aesthetic beauty of the Bolera School, Stylized Dance, Traditional Dance and Flamenco. Principal Theater. April 19th.
  • ‘Tonalities’: Concert by the Municipal Music Band of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Main Theater. April 24th.

During the private and personalized tours that you have designed together with me you can also find out about the best Basque culture events that take place in the month of April 2024

February 28, 2024