Basque culture offers us many artistic, sporting, traditional activities, etc., which I have carefully selected for you to enjoy this November 2024.

International Musician’s Day is celebrated, like every November 22th, by all its professionals and lovers, like me. This date is more popular in Spain than International Music Day, which is on October 1st. On November 22th, Cecilia of Rome, better known as Saint Cecilia, died martyred for her Christian faith. She is the patron saint of music, poets, and the blind. On this same day in November, the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo was born in 1901 and the British composer Benjamin Britten in 1913. And the Bolero, by the Basque-French Maurice Ravel, premiered at the Opera Garnier in Paris in 1928!

Joaquín Rodrigo composed, commissioned by the Marquis of Bolarque, the famous Aranjuez Concerto at the beginning of 1939 (85 years in 2024). It premiered on November 9th at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona. It means a lot to the history of Spanish music as it was the first concerto for orchestra and guitar. Rodrigo died only 25 years ago, in July 1999. He was a contemporary of Ravel, whom he met in 1949 (75 years in 2024). Another Spanish contribution to world music is flamenco. Since November 16, 2010, it has been an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

In November 2024, the 135th anniversary of the first jukebox in the United States, the 115th anniversary of Rachmaninoff presenting his “Piano Concerto No. 3”; the 45th anniversary of Pink Floyd publishing their album “The Wall”; and the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the fossil Lucy, named after the song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles. McCartney, Starr and Harrison meet again on November 12th, 17 days before George Harrison dies. They had released their self-titled album ‘The Beatles’ also in November. On the 23rd of the month in 1991, Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, reports that he is HIV positive and dies the next day. Michael Jackson releases the albums “Dangerous” and “Thriller” in November. Madonna releases the album “Like a Virgin” and Guns N’ Roses releases their last album “The Spaghetti Incident”. And the heavy metal band Iron Maiden is created. That’s November, full of music!

It’s a month to remember the Alexanderplatz demonstration and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The inauguration of the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA). The takeoff, moon landing, walk on the Moon and landing on Earth from the Apollo 12. The United States buys the rights to the Panama Canal. The first case of COVID-19 appears in the world 5 years ago; and 15 years since the second Sunday of November was declared the European Day of Wine Tourism.

In the Basque Country, on November 2nd, the Basque painter Ignacio Zuloaga was born. In 2024, it will be 245 years since John Adams (and his 2 sons) left Boston for Bordeaux in 1779. The ship had a breakdown that made it dock in El Ferrol, Spain. On his journey through Spanish lands towards Bordeaux, he crossed the 3 Basque provinces. He stayed in Álava and Biscay. The Basque Diego Gardoqui invited him and took care of him in Bilbao in January 1780. 4 years later he was the first Spanish ambassador to the United States. Gardoqui was born in Bilbao on November 12th and died on the same day, 63 years apart. John Adams, for his part, would enter the White House on November 1st, 1800 as the first president to reside there.

Aitor Delgado Tours invites you to admire the selection I have made for you of the best that Basque culture will show in November 2014:

Proposals of Basque culture in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Alava

  • María Antonia Proietti, the Italian model. Model of the Alava painters Ignacio Díaz Olano and Fernando Amárica. Museum of Fine Arts of Álava in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From May 15th to January 26th, 2025.
  • Trajectories. It shows the work of the three Basque artists Juan de Echevarría, Gustavo de Maeztu and Ángel Olarte. Works from the collection of the Álava Museum of Fine Arts in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From May 15th to January 26th, 2025.
  • Exhibition “Inhabited Paintings” by Dorleta Ortiz de Elguea. Three decades of relationship with painting, research and knowledge. Montehermoso Cultural Center. From September 28th to November 11th.
  • 49th edition of the Vitoria-Gasteiz International Theatre Festival. 18 works by Basque creators, 2 of which will be world premieres with companies from the city. Félix Petite Teatro, Jesús Ibáñez de Matauco Teatro and Federico García Lorca Teatro. From October 17th to December 15th.
  • Chillida: Applied uses. Facet of illustrator and creator of two-dimensional shapes and icons. Centenary of his birth. Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country, Artium. From October 25th to February 2nd, 2025.
  • BIOARABA 2024. 9th Fair of organic products, healthy living and responsible consumption. Food, Cosmetics, Clothing, Footwear, Transport, Renewable Energy, Therapies, Health, etc. Iradier Arena. November 8th, 9th & 10th.
  • “Musical Saturdays” with the Cubas Duo Hondal (Cantabria). Marta (accordion) and Cristina (violin). Museum of Fine Arts of Alava. November 9th.
  • The Ministry of Unresolved Feelings. In twenty different scenes, Strømgren will demonstrate that dance and music can alleviate the world’s sorrows. Teatro Félix Petite (Centro Cívico Ibaiondo). November 15th.
  • Joëlle Tuerlinckx. The case of the house museum. A disconcerting retrospective in which Tuerlinckx brings together historical works alongside recent proposals. Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country, Artium. From November 15th to May 4th, 2025.
  • Change! Concert by the Municipal Band. Manel Valdivieso as guest conductor. Solo trumpet: Unai Eseverri. Europa Conference Centre. November 20th.
  • Somnia. Klaustro Sounds. Fusing accordion, electronics and visual arts. Gasteiz-based accordionist Naiara De La Puente and Ecuadorian composer and visual artist Tania Cortés. Montehermoso Cultural Center. November 24th.

 

Basque culture events in Bilbao and Biscay in November 2024  

  • Yoshitomo Nara. Exhibition covers Nara’s entire career from its beginnings. Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. From June 28th to November 3rd.
  • Antonio de Guezala. Exhibition of the new collection acquired by the Basque painter. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From September 27th until February 2nd, 2025.
  • Hilma af Klint Exhibition. Pioneer in the representation of the invisible. Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. From October 18th until February 2nd, 2025.
  • XVIII Euskalgym International Gymnastics Gala. The best rhythmic gymnastics show in the world. Bizkaia Arena BEC! Ansio-Barakaldo. From November 1st to 3rd.
  • Ismael Serrano in concert. «We are beautiful because we are real». Songs from his latest album The Song of Our Life, his hits of all time. Arriaga Theatre. November 12th.
  • “El Consorcio” in concert. With the legendary songs of the group Mocedades. Auditorium of the Euskalduna Palace. Palace of Congresses and Music of Bilbao. November 15th.
  • Retro Clásica Bilbao. XIII Classic, Vintage and Collector’s Vehicle Fair. Rallies, gatherings, exhibitions and expositions related to the sector. Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Barakaldo. From November 15th to 17th.
  • ‘Bizkaia Kantuan’. Organ, piano and choral concert. Alberto Sáez Puente, Matías Sagreras and Bilboko Koral Elkartea. Euskalduna Palace Auditorium. Bilbao Congress and Music Palace. November 16th.
  • Celebration! With Sole Giménez. 40 years of musical career with a prodigious voice. From pop to bossa nova or bolero. Campos Elíseos Theatre. November 23rd.
  • Momix: Alice. Illusion, acrobatics, magic and fantasy in a magical, mysterious, fun, eccentric journey and much more. Based on Alice in Wonderland. Arriaga Theater. From November 26th until December 1st.

 

Basque culture activities in San Sebastian and Gipuzkoa in November 2024

  • Exhibition “Balenciaga. Character”, 3rd part. Perspective of the couturier’s work, never before seen, and focused on what makes “a Balenciaga” recognizable. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From March 1st to January 19th, 2025.
  • “Chillida / Balenciaga – Fold the shape” exhibition. 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. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From March 22nd to January 5th, 2025.
  • 100 years. The modern and/or the contemporary. Basque art from the 1920s to the present. San Telmo Museum. From April 13th to December 30th.
  • Perfume at the time of Balenciaga. “The invisible and definitive fashion accessory” according to Chanel. The epitome of luxury. History of modern perfume (1895-1972): fragrances, jewel bottles, boxes and displays, advertising and poetry. Collections of Anne de Thoisy-Dallem, Juanjo Ruiz Crivillé, Benegas perfumery in San Sebastian and the Balenciaga Museum itself. From May 24th to December 8th.
  • The evolution of Basque fashion from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Basque Costume Museum in Rentería. Baroque building Kapitain Etxea. From June 24th to December 31st.
  • 55th Tolosa International Choral Competition. Chamber choirs (Basque song, popular music and polyphony), children’s choirs and vocal groups (religious music and secular music). Leidor Theatre, San Francisco Church, and others. From October 31st to November 3rd.
  • Euskadiko Orkestra. Basque Country Orchestra. Kursaal Auditorium. Mozart & Schubert (November 4th). Schumann & Sibelius (15th & 21th). Brush & Bruckner. November 29th.
  • Yerai Cortés. Choral Guitar. Clapping and choirs. From the limits of flamenco to infinity and beyond. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. November 17th.
  • “Lost Letters”. Lucía Lacarra Ballet. Based on a real letter written by World War I artilleryman Frank Bracey to his wife. Kursaal Auditorium. November 22nd.
  • Migrants. Migration is movement. Dreams, fears, pains and hopes are also transferred. Aukeran Dance Company. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. November 30th.

The program brings us excellent musical and other proposals with which to admire Basque culture in November 2024. For more information about our culture or tailor-made Basque tours for you, contact me.

October 2, 2024