The Castellers of Vilafranca Perform in Salisbury, England
During a recent vacation to England and Ireland we stopped in Salisbury UK during which the Salisbury Arts Festival was going on. We chose the place because of its relatively small size and proximity to the notable Stonehenge site after spending time in London.
On June 3, 2013 as part of the Salisbury Arts Festival the Castellers of Vilafranca performed outside the monumental Salisbury Cathedral where the an original copy of Magna Carta is kept. The Castellers shared their ability to build human towers outside the cathedral. A four-piece band comprised of three oboe-like instruments and a drummer played music with a traditional sound during the performance.
We also watched two films -- The Legend of Time (La Leyenda Del Tiempo) and Fenix 11*23 -- both were wonderful displays of the Catalan culture. The Legend of Time was set in a seaside town and contrasted with the Barcelona metropolis in the same region. Fenix 11*23, the second film we watched included a Q&A with the two directors, which covered the politics of Catalonia, their quest for independence, and Spain’s paranoia after the train attacks against the state. Some of the questions from audience members diverted Joel Joan's (film co-director) insistence that the film focused on the human spirit/human rights but with a specific reference to Catalan interest in separating from Spain. The director noted Catalonia’s history of losing battles so their quest will take a peaceful path, yet determined to democratically seek an independent state through voting.
On June 3, 2013 as part of the Salisbury Arts Festival the Castellers of Vilafranca performed outside the monumental Salisbury Cathedral where the an original copy of Magna Carta is kept. The Castellers shared their ability to build human towers outside the cathedral. A four-piece band comprised of three oboe-like instruments and a drummer played music with a traditional sound during the performance.
My family found the arts festival during our trip research and noticed several events focused on the Catalan culture and arts. It seemed odd that we chose activities focused on a seemingly foreign culture to England and Ireland, but festival curators at some level connected Catalonia and Scotland's quest for independence from Spain and England, respectively.
We also watched two films -- The Legend of Time (La Leyenda Del Tiempo) and Fenix 11*23 -- both were wonderful displays of the Catalan culture. The Legend of Time was set in a seaside town and contrasted with the Barcelona metropolis in the same region. Fenix 11*23, the second film we watched included a Q&A with the two directors, which covered the politics of Catalonia, their quest for independence, and Spain’s paranoia after the train attacks against the state. Some of the questions from audience members diverted Joel Joan's (film co-director) insistence that the film focused on the human spirit/human rights but with a specific reference to Catalan interest in separating from Spain. The director noted Catalonia’s history of losing battles so their quest will take a peaceful path, yet determined to democratically seek an independent state through voting.
 |
Fenix 11*23 film directors Sergi Lara (far right) and Joel Joan (second from
right) with Patrick Bliss, Salisbury Arts Festival and language translator
discuss film with audience members of packed British premiere screening.
|
Comments