ClàssicAnd Festival Ends with Record 93% Attendance and Sold-Out Shows

The fourth edition of the ClàssicAnd festival concluded on Sunday with record attendance figures, achieving 91% occupancy for paid events and 93% overall when including free activities. Organisers reported selling between 1,956 and 2,500 tickets for paid performances, marking a 25.6% increase from the previous year's 1,956.

Director Joan Antoni Rechi described the results as highly positive, noting that major shows featuring mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, the Nacho Duato Company, and a production of *Carmina Burana*—requiring 180 performers on stage under conductor Josep Caballé Domènech—sold out completely. He added that additional seating for events like *Carmina Burana* and Nacho Duato would have sold out as well, reflecting strong demand. The festival closed with *Cassandre*, starring French actress Fanny Ardant.

Free events also drew full houses, including all four showings of *La Passió de Casa de la Vall*, *Jardins de Somni* by Isabel Fèlix and Míriam Manubens, and a recital by saxophonist Wataru Hirai, last year's Sax Fest winner. The family-oriented *Òhpera* received strong uptake in the streets of Andorra la Vella and Ordino.

Tourism Minister Jordi Torres called the outcome "very satisfactory," praising the high artistic quality and its role in establishing Andorra as a cultural destination regionally and beyond. While most attendees were local, tickets sold to visitors from up to 12 countries, including Spain, France, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Colombia.

This edition marked the end of the initial four-year contract involving the ministries of Tourism and Culture, the communes of Andorra la Vella and Ordino, and sponsors MoraBanc and Creand. Both Rechi and Torres expressed optimism about renewal, with Torres emphasising cross-party support and stating that culture transcends political divides. Discussions among stakeholders will determine the festival's future ahead of next year's edition.