Monday, December 28, 2009

Packed to the gunnels

There are some concerts performed by the Banda de la Sociedad Unión Musical de Bigastro where you definitely need to be early to get a seat. Anytime the children from the music school are playing is one and the Christmas Concert is another.

We set out a little later than usual last night and couldn’t get in the car park the other side of the main road from the Auditorium. That was a clue as to how many people might already be in the building. A quick glance downstairs and we headed off for the balcony where there were no more than a dozen seats left. By the time the concert was due to start, there was not a seat left, not even a space to stand or an aisle unoccupied. Next to Pam were an engaged couple, she was sitting on his knees and told him to behave!

Scan10011 Bear in mind that we were early and that very few of these events start on time. On many occasions we have seen people arrive twenty minutes after a concert has started and still get a seat. Anyone arriving twenty minutes late last night would have been stood outside in the park.

What of the programme? As you can see the first half was filled with showcase pieces for us to enjoy. Nothing Christmassy there though. That had to wait until the second half when the children filled the back of the stage ready to sing carols to us.

Anyone who has visited a Spanish supermarket in the last week would probably recognise Chiquirritín with its catchy play on words and Rin rin with its impossible chorus. However, I reckon most of our English neighbours would be hard pressed to follow the translation of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” into Spanish.

For the benefit of my Spanish readers the original lyrics are on the left. The Spanish version on the right is totally different.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten, and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Oh, blanca Navidad, sueño
y con la nieve alrededor
blanca es mi quimera
y es mensajera de paz
y de puro amor.

Oh, blanca Navidad, nieve
una esperanza y un cantar
recordar tu infancia podrás
al llegar la blanca navidad.

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