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Suntransfers.com Lisboa

Mónica Boixeda

Suntransfers.com is a good and efficient airport transfer service to anywhere in Lisbon and its surrounding areas.

Parlando Berlin

Mónica Boixeda

Parlando Berlin offers German courses for foreigners with the immersion method. It also carries out programmed excursions.

Economy Transfer.com Malaga

Mónica Boixeda

So that your arrival in Malaga is a relaxed one, nothing better than a good transfer from the airport to your final destination in the city. That´s what Economy Transfer.com

The celestial voices of the ‘castrati’

Mónica Boixeda

In music, we are aware of the existance of eunuch singers towards the end of the first period of the Byzantine Empire in the 5th century AD. Empress Aelia Eudoxia had a eunuch choir master called Brisona, who presumably established the use of the ´castrati´ in Byzantine choirs. Between the 9th and 12th century, we have the example of the choir of the Basilica of Santa Sophia in Constantinople. Some experts say that the Spanish ´falsetti´ sopranos could have been ´castrati´ up until the time when Spain was no longer influenced by the Arabs. There are some centuries that we practically have no documents of and, suddenly, in 16th century Italy, they once again become relevant, when the first castrated children were Spanish. The duke Alfonso II of Ferrara was one of the first enthusiasts of these ´new´ singers. Different popes began to gather this type of singers for their choirs. Apparently, one of the first ones to enter the choirs of the pontiffs was Francisco Soto de Langa, from Spain, in 1562. The great use of these resided in the tones that they could reach, reserved on many occasions for women, who could not sing in the liturgies. Thirty-two popes enjoyed the ´castrati´ in the Sistine Chapel. The practice wasn´t legal or recognized, in fact, many children died due to the infections caused by these traumatic interventions. For those who didn´t accomplish fame, in the best of cases they reserved a place in the choir of some church, and it seems that many were forced to enter prostitution. Some of the most famous ´castrati´ were Matteo Sassano (Matteuccio),...

Freedonia Association in Barcelona

Mónica Boixeda

On the street Lleialtat, 6, in the Raval district, there is now a cultural association that offers more variety of alternative culture in Barcelona, we are talking about Freedonia Association. Enjoying a play, a film projection, a DJ or a photo exhibition while having a glass of wine with friends and new people, is one of the pleasures that enable such associations. Place of culture always available to everyone. In Barcelona there are some places that work with the same philosophy as the Miscelanea (in the Raval) or the Cova de les Cultures (in Gracia), but unfortunately there are many other places in which the City Council has closed like la Virgen o el Almazen (both in the Raval). And why I say unfortunately? Because these partnerships not only promote the culture, but have a very important social role, organizing events and workshops open to everyone and working with neighborhood organizations, as well as enable new artists, unknown or with no resources to promote their work. Why the City Council has many obstacles to this type of premises? The neighborhoods need creative spaces of leisure and alternative projects. They want to “sanitize” the Raval, but imposing its “Barcelona model”. The modernization of the city can’t be made against the citizen; therefore the closing of cultural associations of this kind represents an assault to the local society. That´s why Freedonia Association, as well as others, play an absolutely enriching work, reactivating the alternative art, the other reality of culture, which also deserves recognition in our community. At the end are the best forms of expression that we define our time...