Free live music and stuff in Las Palmas, December 2025

Before reporting on what we’ve seen in December, let me tell you what we haven’t. That’s right, it was Christmas lights switch-on on 4 December. When we arrived somewhere close to Plaza de Santa Ana, we realised that we can’t get there because of the bloody barriers. It was supposed to be a family-friendly event but from what we could see, all the seats were taken mostly by adults. After circling the place clock- and then counterclockwise, we went home to read some indignant comments in social networks.

And then a great number of outdoorsy activities were cancelled thanks to Storm Emilia. Oh well.

On the other hand, I’ve been to three pretty good Christmas concerts in local churches which I probably wouldn’t attend if we haven’t moved to Isleta.

• 6 December: Concierto de Navidad @ Parroquia de Santa María del Pino, Calle Ruiz de Alda, 7, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria^†
  A concert of La Banda de música Barahona conducted by Zoraida Hernández Almeida. The programme included:
  • Mulan (Matthew Wilder, arr. Johnnie Vinson)
  • Selections from Moana (Lin-Manuel Miranda, arr. Jay Bocook)
  • Arabian Dances (Roland Barrett)
  • Hercules (Alan Menken)
  • Christmas in Mexico (traditional, arr. Michael Story)
  • Ukrainian Bell Carol (Mykola Leontovych, arr. Richard L. Saucedo)
  • Fantasy on a Burgundian Carol (traditional, arr. Michael Story)
  • A Holly Jolly Christmas Medley (arr. Stefan Schwalgin)
• 10 December: Performance colectiva «Rojo Descolonial» @ Casa de Colón, Calle Colón, 1
  This collective performance was the culmination of Rojo descolonial. Doscientos años de grana en Canarias, a project by the Mexican artist Gloria Godínez.

  

• 16 December: «Los Reyes siguen l’estrella. La Natividad en la tradición musical hispánica» @ Casa de Colón
  Las Hespérides feauturing Magdalena Padilla (soprano), David Batista (countertenor) and Carlos Oramas (vihuela). The programme included:

  Luys Milán: Fantasía del Quarto Tono* Tomás Luis de Victoria: O magnum mysterium Tomás Luis de Victoria: Ne timeas Maria Diego Pisador: Dezidle al caballero* Francisco Guerrero: Puer natus est Vincenzo Capirola: Ricercar ottava* Anonymous (from Cancionero de Upsala): Dadme albricias Anonymous (from Cancionero de Upsala): Gózate, Virgen Sagrada Anonymous (from Cancionero de Upsala): No la devemos dormir Francisco Guerrero: La Tierra s’está gozando Francisco Guerrero: Pastor, quien madre virgen Francisco Guerrero: Los Reyes siguen l’estrella Francisco Guerrero: Niño Dios d'amor herido Francisco Guerrero: Vamos al portal Luys de Narváez: Fantasía del quarto tono* Mateo Flecha “El Viejo”: Dindirindin

  

• 18 December: Concierto de Navidad de la Unidad de Música del Mando Aéreo de Canarias @ Plaza de Santa Ana
  The band of the Canary Islands Air Command braved the elements to deliver a delightful Christmas concert. The highlights included themes from Cinema Paradiso and Skyfall, Street Tango, A Night in Tunisia and Nutcracker Swing.

  

• 19 December: Recital Lírico de Navidad @ Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Calle Benartemi, 46^†
  With Inna Saavedra (soprano), Sun Park (organ), Cristina Gimeno Pérez (oboe) and Néstor Henríquez Domínguez (violin). The programme included:

  Franz Schubert: Ave Maria Johann Sebastian Bach: Magnificat Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria Johannes Brahms: Wiegenlied Georg Friedrich Händel: Lascia ch’io pianga César Franck: Panis angelicus Franz Schubert: Mille cherubini in coro John Francis Wade: Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful) Georg Friedrich Händel: Messiah Vladimir Vavilov: Ave Maria (misattributed to Giulio Caccini) Irving Berlin: White Christmas* Franz Xaver Gruber: Stille Nacht Adolphe Adam: Cantique de Noël Encore: James Lord Pierpont: Jingle Bells*

• 28 December: Concierto de Navidad @ Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Luz, Calle Pérez Muñoz, 4^†
  A concert of La Banda Juvenil de Firgas (postponed from 7 December). The highlights were pasodoble Música y Vinos by Manuel Morales Martínez, a Pixar medley (including the theme from The Incredibles), and Jingle Bell Rock (encore).

And exhibitions:

• 12 November 2025 — 1 March 2026: «El original multiplicado» @ Casa de Colón
  Engravings from the collection of Cabildo de Gran Canaria, including works by Rembrandt, Goya, Picasso, Chillida, Chirino and Lola Massieu.

  

• 4 December 2025 — 6 January 2026: Elia Verona @ Bar Tenesor, Calle Rosarito, 2
  Engravings by Elia Verona in a friendly bar environment.
• 11 December 2025 — 9 January 2026: «Objetópolis: Atlas de invenciones poéticas» @ Centro de Artes Plásticas (CAP), Calle Colón, 8
  Impossible art by Irene León.

  

Happy New Year, everybody.

*	Instrumental.
†	This concert was part of the cycle Sueña la Navidad en tu barrio (District Isleta-Puerto-Guanarteme).