IBERIAN SUITE: global arts remix
The Kennedy Center presents a major festival highlighting the many cultures that comprise the Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking peoples —the impact they’ve had throughout the world, and the vast influences they’ve embraced from other cultures.
Continuing the Kennedy Center’s exploration of international arts, IBERIAN SUITE: global arts remix is a major festival highlighting the many cultures that comprise the Portuguese and Spanish speaking peoples, and the impact they have had around the world, as well as the vast influence this region has embraced from other cultures.
The festival, curated by Alicia Adams, Vice President of International Programming and Dance, will include dozens of performances by some of the region’s best contemporary music, dance, and theater artists —many of whom are making their U.S. or D.C. debuts— as well as companies from around the world. Visual arts will be highlighted in exhibitions and installations around the building, and additional events will focus on literature, design, fashion, and more.
Featured Arts From Spain at Iberian Suite:
Visual arts
Picasso Ceramist and the Mediterranean
- On March 4-22. At Atrium and Atrium Foyers.
- Picasso, Ceramist and the Mediterranean is a carefully curated selection of more than 140 of Pablo Picasso’s ceramic pieces that reveal how the prolific artist reshaped the very notions of how clay could be used.
Dance
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras (Spain): Voces, Suite Flamenca
- On Monday, March 9 at 8 pm. At Eisenhower Theater.
- Hailed as a “formidable dancer” (The Guardian) and “a performer of understated magnetism” (The Metro), flamenco superstar Sara Baras and her company present the D.C. premiere of her sizzling 2014 work, Voces, Suite Flamenca.
- Buy tickets.
Compañía María Pagés: Utopía
- On March 11-12 at 8 pm. At Eisenhower Theater.
- “The leading innovator of modern flamenco” (The New York Times), Spain-based dancer and choreographer María Pagés brings the U.S. premiere of her 2011 work Utopía for her company’s Kennedy Center debut.
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María Muñoz, Mal Pelo & Tania Pérez-Salas Compañía de Danza
- On March 13-14 at 7:30 pm. At Terrace Theater.
- In a double bill program, María Muñoz, Artistic Director of Mal Pelo Dance Company, brings the U.S. premiere of her solo piece Bach, followed by Tania Pérez-Salas Compañía de Danza with a new work, Made in Mexico XX.
- Buy tickets.
Theater
Teatro de La Abadía: Entremeses
- On March 17-18 at 7:30 pm. At Terrace Theater.
- One of Spain’s most acclaimed theater companies makes its U.S. debut with a revival of Entremeses, directed by José Luis Gómez, featuring three comedic one-acts by Don Quixote author Miguel de Cervantes.
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Ron Lalá Theater Company: Somewhere in Quixote
- On March 21-22.
- While writing his comic misadventures of a “not quite right” knight, Cervantes begs his friends to act out and help finish his story. A band of actor-musicians from Madrid reveals all the magic of the Don Quixote legend in a fresh and clever way. Directed by Yayo Cáceres. Age 12+.
- Buy tickets.
Music
National Symphony Orchestra with conductor Jesús López-Cobos
- On March 5-7. Concert Hall.
- Spain’s Jesús López-Cobos conducts two programs: one featuring Portuguese fado plus works by Turina and Albéniz (Thursday), another celebrating composers from Spain and Brazil (Friday/Saturday). Thursday: Camané & Carminho, fado (Portugal); Friday & Saturday – Juanita Lascarro, soprano (Colombia) & Javier Perianes, piano (Spain).
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Concha Buika with Iván ‘Melon’ Lewis & Continuum Quartet (Cuba)
- On Sunday, Mar. 8 at 8 pm. Concert Hall.
- An internationally renowned, multi-genre singer, prolific recording artist, and two-time Latin Grammy winner, Concha Buika is joined by brilliant pianist Iván ‘Melon’ Lewis and his Continuum Quartet.
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PostClassical Ensemble: Iberian Mystics: The Confluence of Faiths
- On March 10-11 at 7:30 pm.
- The ensemble presents a U.S. premiere multimedia program of music, flamenco dance, poetry, and visual art inspired by a confluence of Islamic, Catholic, and Jewish influences. Written by Antonio Muñoz Molina and Joseph Horowitz.
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National Symphony Orchestra with conductor Christoph Eschenbach
- On March 12-14. Concert Hall.
- Four French Composers Inspired by Spain. Iberian culture’s impact on France is explored through Ravel’s Boléro, Chabrier’s España, Debussy’s Ibéria, and Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole featuring violinist Leticia Moreno’s NSO debut.
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Free Performances on the Millennium Stage
- All performances at 6 pm. No tickets required.
- Sílvia Pérez Cruz and Raϋl Fernández Miró (Spain) on March 9.
- Romero Lubambo (Brazil) and Hernán Romero (Spain) on March 10.
- Leticia Moreno with Christoph Eschenbach (Spain/Germany) on March 14.
Literary Series
Tres Pablos: Casals, Neruda, and Picasso – A Multimedia Celebration
- On Friday, March 13 at 8 pm. At Eisenhower Theater.
- Moderated by Marie Arana, this tribute to three giants of the Spanish-speaking world features short videos, live music, and interviews with Marta Casals Istomin, widow of Pablo Casals, and Julia Alvarez, a translator of Pablo Neruda.
- Buy tickets.
Literature Panel: The Measure of Cervantes’ Tongue
- On Saturday, March 14 at 1 pm.
- Award-winning American translator Edith Grossman and novelist and literary critic Eduardo Lago–who know the language of Cervantes as few do–share their knowledge of the literary master.
- Free ticketed event.
Literature Panel: The Boundless Spanish Imagination
- On Sunday, March 15 at 2 pm.
- Valerie Miles moderates a discussion with Carlos Ruiz Zafón and Antonio Muñoz Molina –two of the most successful contemporary Spanish-language novelists– on how Spain’s literary traditions have shaped their work.
- Free ticketed event.
Literature Panel: A Song for Iberia: Six Voices of Literary Masters Then and Now
- On Sunday, March 15 at 4:30 pm.
- To celebrate the stunning diversity of Spanish- and Portuguese-language authors, contemporary writers from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal talk about their work amidst echoes from their literary predecessors.
- Free ticketed event.
Culinary Events
Installation – The Transatlantic Table: 500 Years of Global Gastronomy
- Wednesday, March 4 – Sunday, March 22, from 10 am to 9 pm.
- You might be surprised to learn how many of the foods and animals we know so well were brought to the Americas, or discovered here and spread around the globe, thanks to Portuguese and Spanish exploration. Bananas, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, potatoes, corn, pumpkin, turkeys, cows, pigs, horses… which of these were seen for the first time in the Americas, and which were brought here by explorers? Find the answers in our family space constructed from cork that features take-away fact cards about the fruits and vegetables we eat every day, plus iPads with games centered on healthy eating and a craft activity to create your own fruit plate art inspired by the incredible fruit plate panels of artist Roger Rowley.
Euskadi: Cocina en la cumbre
- On Saturday, March 7 at 4 pm.
- Documentary filmmaker, journalist, and author of several books on gastronomy, Hasier Etxeberria presents a cinematic reflection on the Basque Country’s culinary history, and the notoriety of its chefs and restaurateurs, followed by a discussion.
Juan Mari Arzak: The world is a house
- On Sunday, March 8 at 2 pm.
Explore the creative culinary vision of globally acclaimed chef Juan Mari Arzak, who has spent 45 years in haute cuisine.
A Taste of Spain featuring Chef Rive Perez Castro
- On Monday, March 16, 2015 at 5:30 pm.
- These culinary sessions during the festival introduce participants to the traditions, cultures, and environments that have shaped the culinary evolution of their respective countries. Event duration: approximately 4-1/2 hours, including KC Shuttle transport to the off-site venue, the introductory session, dinner, and return transport to the Kennedy Center.
- Tickets on sale (members only, $100.00.)