Undiscovered Morocco December 29, 2008
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Desert driving requires special skills of its own. First, make sure to take at least 10 liters of bottled water for each person and for the radiator. You’ll soon find that you need to move rapidly over sand; if you start to bog down, put the car in low gear and step on the gas. Even when you’ve got more or less used to the conditions, the speed and passing maneuvers of locals will make you turn to Allah for protection. Wherever you go, make sure to take along your passport and proof of rental, as police checkpoints are extremely common.
Using Meknes as a starting point, make the short trip to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, just 33km away. Formerly a major olive-oil trading center, the city flourished under Roman rule and reached its zenith in the 2nd and 3rd century AD when it became the capital of the kingdom of Mauritania. It was the Romans who ordered the deforestation of the surrounding area to make way for grain with which to feed their hungry empire and as the surrounding treeless plains can attest, they did the job with their customary efficiency. Timing your visit to catch the archways lit by the setting sun is the perfect end to a day spent wandering the ruins and inspecting the remaining mosaics.
Open Studios – Westelijke Eilanden December 22, 2008
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This popular annual event occurs when the dense population of artists of the maritime neighbourhood of Westelijke Eilanden exposes their lives and work by opening their doors to a wandering public. With 57 participants, the range is wide enough for both the serious collector and the cash-strapped curious to have the opportunity to make an investment. A multimedia presentation of the artists involved and activities for the children round out the programme.
Xavier Nogués December 21, 2008
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On display in the palatial MNAC are 32 drawings by the gifted, though now unjustly forgotten Catalan artist, Xavier Nogués. The paramount ‘noucentiste’, Nogués reached considerable fame at the beginning of the 20th-century for his humorous drawings of popular Catalan scenes and aphorisms. The drawings, executed in a loose and confident style reminiscent of Honoré Daumier, are from Nogués’ once-famous book, ‘Picturesque Catalonia’, first published in 1919 with commentaries by the writer Francesc Pujols.
ROVA Saxophone Quartet December 20, 2008
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This quartet of wailing saxophones have been together for over two decades, combining the expressive riches of improvised jazz with the structural precision of classical string quartets. Bruce Ackley, Jon Raskin, Steve Adams and Larry Ochs have each made names for themselves, but together as ROVA they are able to create a joyous – and often raucous – balance from such seemingly contradictory influences as Schubert, Varèse, Ornette Coleman and John Zorn.
John Prine + Iris De Ment December 19, 2008
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American legend John Prine plays the Olympia for one night only, supported by the smooth-voiced Irish De Ment. The 1970s singer-songwriter has braved throat cancer and an inescapable ‘new Dylan’ tag to record an album of duets with the likes of Dolores Keane, Emmylou Harris and De Ment. Prine has an uncanny knack for touching on universal truths via songs populated with everyday, small-town characters and Irish fans will be thrilled with chance to catch the main man himself.
Tom Petty December 18, 2008
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Back with the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty is touring in support of his recent release ‘Echo’. For the last 20 years, the band has been at the vanguard of rock music: with Petty’s nasally voice and middle-class lyrics, they’ve never conformed to music industry standards and have always fought against categorization. Don’t miss this legendary songwriter and his band, whose massive hits include ‘Refugee’, ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’ and ‘Into the Great Wide Open’.
Varkala Beach December 17, 2008
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Size Matters December 15, 2008
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The Filmmuseum has dusted off the best 70mm films ever made for a retrospective which will feature not only 70mm epics like ‘Ben Hur’, ‘The Alamo’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, but also 35mm films such as ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘Aliens’, which have been blown up to this monumental format. Even the digital revolution has yet to recreate the sheer quality of the 70mm format, which is additionally enhanced for this festival with the use of a 6-track magnetic stereo system.
Paris Quartier d’Eté December 11, 2008
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Proof that life does go on in Paris in August comes from this eclectic programme of classical and world music concerts, dance, circus and other entertainment across town, often taking place outdoors in the Jardins du Luxembourg, Palais-Royal and Tuileries and other parks. A wildly eclectic international array of participants will be getting involved, including contemporary dance icon Blanca Li, the Taiwan Opera, traditional Japanese drummers and many others.
V.O.C. Schip ‘Amsterdam’ December 10, 2008
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Children can dress up and join the crew of actors on a life-size replica of an 18th-century Dutch East Indies Trading Company (V.O.C.) sailing ship, which is docked outside the National Shipping Museum. Their hosts will tell stories from sailing journeys, when it took a nine-month voyage to bring back spices from Asia and 200 sailors were packed in below deck. A good initial taster of nauticalia for budding sailors.
