Note from the Mayor
Index
03
Presentation of the Contest
06 Selected choirs
07 08
14
16
General programme
Daily programme Jury and presenter
Torrevieja,
a unique place
The International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony reaches 64 years of age. The same as VISTA ALEGRE weekly magazine, since it was created to boost its repercussion. That is why we wish to go back to our roots and devote one complete issue to the Contest, and we make it in English and Spanish for its cosmopolitan nature. With this issue, I want to welcome all choirs that not only take part in what, doubtlessly, is the most important choral encounter in the world, but also fraternise with each other and enjoy everything Torrevieja can offer them, taking home unforgettable memories that will share with all their environment. That is why I want to address them -youspecially, to thank you for the atmosphere created around this event to pay a tribute to the habanera, something that means much for all the natives of Torrevieja, and that forms part of our roots and our identity. We are very proud of the fact that over one hundred choirs have applied this year to participate in the competition stage of our Contest. The selection carried out by the technical commission of the Habaneras Municipal Board has been very hard, as well as the decision the jury will have to make to choose the winners among the twelve -coming from ten different countries- that have finally been selected. Regardless of this, I want to congratulate all of you here because you make us happy and important with your singing; and also the Habaneras Municipal Board, that makes the Contest so brilliant, and all those that choose us to spend the evenings with us and enjoy a unique song genre. Thank you all! Enjoy the habanera in Torrevieja!
José Manuel Dolón García President of the Habaneras Municipal Board and Mayor of Torrevieja
DIRECTOR: Communication and Protocol Office of the Torrevieja Town Council (Amparo Peiró and Marga Torregrosa). DELEGATED COUNCILLOR: Domingo Soler Torregrosa. EDITOR: Alba Urrutia. FRONT PAGE PHOTO: Alfonso Ortuño. CONTRIBUTORS: Víctor Galán, Jorge Bernabeu, Emi Gama, Municipal Board of Habaneras. LAYOUT AND PRINTING: Torreguía Ediciones, S.L. C/Orihuela, 34. Tel.: +0034 96 670 27 06 - 03181 Torrevieja (Alicante). Legal deposit A.102/1961
Introduction
Torrevieja,
city of the habanera The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony brings together choirs from eleven countries From 22nd to 28th July, Torrevieja celebrates its 64th International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony. Around half a million choir members from different parts of the world will gather in our city for seven days to turn the habanera singing in an universal language. Nineteen choirs will get to the sounding board of the Eras de la Sal. Twelve of them will take part in the competition, after having been selected by the Technical Commission of the Habaneras Municipal Board among more than one hundred applications received. Seven of the participating choirs come from Europe (Spain -Murcia and Asturias-, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, Belarus and Macedonia), two from America (Mexico and Colombia) and three from Asia (China, Indonesia and the Philippines). Furthermore, this year, and out of the competition, the ‘University of Santo Tomas Singers UST’ will perform on Monday 23rd. This choir is regarded one of the best choirs in the world, and the audience in Torrevieja had the pleasure to enjoy them on the 56th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony, in which they won five awards. In the inauguration event, six local choirs will perform out of the competition: Coro y Orquesta ‘Maestro Ricardo Lafuente’, Masa Coral ‘José Hódar’, Agrupación Coral ‘Manuel Barberá’, Coral Torrevejense ‘Francisco Vallejos’, Coro ‘Maestro Casanovas’ and Orfeón de Torrevieja, which will close the night performing the anthems along with the ‘Unión Musical Torrevejense’ orchestra. The four competition nights will take place on Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th and Friday 27th July. The Contest will be closed on Saturday 28th July with a Grand Choral Gala, in
Introduction which some of the participant choirs will sing and prizes of this edition will be awarded. The International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja is regarded one of the most importants in its class in the world scene. This fact is an incentive that makes choirs from the whole world apply every year to take part in the competition stage. The compulsory habanera in this edition is ‘En tus ojos vive el mar’, written by Katia Ariana Torres Iturrizaga and composed by Armando Bernabéu Lorenzo, and the jury will be formed by five choral singing personalities: David Colado (Spain), art director of the National Youth Competition of Habaneras and Sea Song of Candás (Asturias); Nuria Fernández (Spain), who carries out several projects in the University Carlos III of Madrid which have become a reference in the Spanish choral scene and gives lectures through the whole world; César Liendo (Venezuela), who won the first prize in the habaneras category in Torrevieja with the deep voices choir he conducts; Josep Prats (Spain), director of the ‘Cantània’ programme of the Pedagogical Service of the Auditorium of Barcelona; and Bernie Sherlock (Ireland), closely bound to the major Contest of Cork. More than three hundred choirs have performed hitherto at the historical Eras de la Sal open-air auditorium, a model of industrial architecture of the 18th century that worked as salt warehouse-dock from 1777 to 1958, that has become since many years ago in one of the main distinguishing symbols of Torrevieja. From a popular contest to a world reference The Contest of Habaneras of Torrevieja was inaugurated on 7th
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The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony
August 1955. On that day, habaneras sounded for the first time in the former scenery of the Vista Alegre Promenade, in a national competition that started to be planned one year before. Since then, choirs from the five continents have taken part in the today known as International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony, throughout its more than 50 years of history, incorporating polyphony in 1964. Nowadays, the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja has become a choral singing reference, and several professionals and directors have remarked its significance. Incidentally, Fidel Calalang, director of the ‘University of Santo Tomas Singers UST’ from Manila (Philippines), guest choir this year out of the competition, stated after participating in the contest eight years ago: ‘The Contest of Habaneras is one of the best in the whole world among those who organize this type of competitions. We found the organization perfect. Plus, I think it is the one with the highest economic prize in the whole world’. Along its trajectory, the Contest has received numerous awards and distinctions. On 2nd August 1994, it was declared of International Tourism Interest by the Ministry for Commerce and Tourism, what boosted the contest and the city of Torrevieja worldwide. More recently, in 2005, the Valencian Regional Government awarded the Contest with the Medal to the Cultural Merit, and, in 2002, the Provincial Regional Government acknowledged it with its Prize to the Tourism Merit. Other remarkable distinctions include the Tourism Prize awarded by the Association for the Promotion of Business and Tourism Initiatives (AFIET, by its Spanish acronym) in 2005 and 2008, and the prize of the Association of Tourism Journalists and Writers in Alicante (AAPET, by its Spanish acronym).
Introduction The habanera, the expression of a town In the ‘Eras de la Sal’, where the salt of the lakes of our city was stored in the past, ‘habaneras sound’, as the popular habanera says, every year during seven nights. Seven days in which the city lives at three-four time. Our Contest is the oldest in its class and is the mirror of the tradition of a whole town that these days digs deep into its roots, into its own history. The habanera is ‘La Paloma’, first best-seller in Latin-American music. The habanera is the Torrevieja native Ricardo Lafuente, the composer who more works of this gender has written in the world. The habanera is that gender to which singers and songwriters like Silvia Pérez Cruz have surrendered. But, principally, the habanera, that sweet-rhythm, suggestive, evocative and nostalgic chant which has been orally passed from generation to generation, is the expression of a whole town, Torrevieja. Agreement with the Cervantes Institute There is a cooperation agreement between the Local Council of Torrevieja and Cervantes Institute that acknowledges the importance of the habanera as transmission and promotion element of Spanish language, and in which the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja plays an essential role. This fact places the city of Torrevieja as a world exponent of Spanish culture and traditional music in Spanish.
Poster of the 65th International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja, by painter Alfonso Ortuño.
The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony
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General programme Competition stage.
8 1-2
6 7 9 10 3
12 4 11
1. Xolo Voces Blancas Murcia (Spain) 2. Grupo Vocal “Amitié” Asturias (Spain) 3. The Choir of Beijing University of Technology (China) 4. University of Philippines Singing Ambassadors (Philippines) 5. Maranatha Christian University Choir (Indonesia) 6. The Girl’s Choir “Raniza” (Belarus) 7. Corul Cantarad Arad (Romania) 8. KUD Branko Cvetkovic Belgrade (Serbia) 9. Tavor Chamber Choir (Ukraine) 10. Female Chamber Choir Sv. Zlata Meglenska (Macedonia) 11. Coro Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga - UNAB (Colombia) 12. Orfeón Universitario Puebla (Mexico)
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The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony
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General programme Beginning every night at 11 pm Eras de la Sal SUNDAY 22ND MONDAY 23RD OPENING GALA PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL CHOIRS
University of Santo Tomas Singers -UST Singers(Philippines)
(out of competition)
Coro y Orquesta Maestro Ricardo Lafuente Masa Coral “José Hódar” Agrupación Coral “Manuel Barberá” Coral Torrevejense “Francisco Vallejos”
TUESDAY 24TH WEDNESDAY 25TH THURSDAY 26TH Coral de Trabajadores, Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela) Tavor Chamber Choir (Ukraine) The Choir of Beijing University of Technology (China)
Corul Cantarad Arad Coro Universidad (Romania) Autónoma de Bucaramanga The Girl’s Choir UNAB (Colombia) ‘Raniza’ (Belarus) Xolo Voces Blancas Murcia Orfeón Universitario (Spain) Puebla (Mexico) Maranatha Christian University Choir (Indonesia)
KUD Branko Cvetkovic Belgrado (Serbia)
Orfeón de Torrevieja
Location
SATURDAY 28TH
Female Chamber Choir Sv. Zlata Meglenska (Macedonia)
GRAND CHOIR GALA
Grupo Vocal ‘Amitié’ Asturias (Spain)
CLOSING CEREMONY
AWARD CEREMONY
University of Philippines Singing Ambasadors (Philippines)
Prizes
Coro “Maestro Casanovas”
Anthems by the ‘Unión Musical Torrevejense’ orchestra
FRIDAY 27TH
Paseo Vista Alegre s/n 03181 Torrevieja Alicante Latitude: 37.975724 Longitude: -0.682656 96 571 25 70 (Patronato de Habaneras)
HABANERA CATEGORY • First prize (‘Ricardo Lafuente’) • Second prize (‘Francisco Vallejos’) • Third prize
€12,000 + trophy €5,000 + trophy €2,500 + trophy
POLIPHONY CATEGORY • First prize (‘Juan Aparicio’) • Second prize (‘César Cánovas’) • Third prize
€10,000 + trophy €4,000 + trophy €2,000 + trophy
OTHER PRIZES ‘José Hódar Talavera’ prize for the best conductor: Trophy + conduction of the joint singing of the compulsory habanera. Audience prize (For the choir with the highest number of votes of the audience members with weekly pass. Voters will receive their vote cardboards with their weekly passes and will rate their preferred €2,000 + trophy choir once finished the competition round). National prize Prize for the Spanish choir with the highest glo€2,000 + trophy bal score.
The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony
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Sunday programme Local choirs have always taken part in the Contest out of the competition. Six choirs and the ‘Unión Musical Torrevejense’ orchestra will take to the Eras de la Sal stage on the first evening. Local groups, through their activity, guarantee dissemination of the habanera and consolidate the continuation of the local choral tradition in the town.
Agrupación Coral “Manuel Barberá”. Director: Sergey Larkin.
Orfeón de Torrevieja. Director: Mario Bustillo.
Coral Torrevejense “Francisco Vallejos”. Director: Anibal Cano Pettersen.
Coro y Orquesta Maestro Ricardo Lafuente. Director: Aurelio Martínez López.
Masa Coral “José Hódar”. Director: Miguel Guerrero Serrano.
Coro Maestro Casanovas. Director: Sabina Martínez Boj.
Unión Musical Torrevejense. Director: Carlos Ramón Pérez.
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The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony
Monday programme
University of Santo Tomas Singers (Philippines) Director: Fidel Gener Calalang Jr. Founded in 1992 by Profesor Fidel Gener Calalang Junior, the choir is fomed by a selected group of students and former students of the different Faculties of the ‘Ponti cal and Royal University of Santo Tomás’, the oldest university in Asia. Their excellent musical mastery has turned them into one of the best choirs in the world. Furthermore, the group reached a milestone in the history of the longest standing choir competition, the ‘Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’ in Wales (United Kingdom), for being the only choir in the world that won the coveted ‘Choir of The Wolrd Grand Prize - Luciano Pavarotti Trophy’ twice (in 1995 and 2010) Throughout their eighteen years in the international choral music scene, they have carried out nineteen tours, with performances in Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Monaco, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, England, Scotland, Spain, France, Andorra, Bulgaria, Italy, Mexico, Canada, United States, Taiwan, Singapore, China and South Korea. Since 1993, the choir has won more than
65 awards representing the Philippines in twenty-one international competitions: Gorizia and Arezzo (Italy); in France; Tolosa, Cantonigròs and Torrevieja (Spain); Lindenholzhausen and Miltenberg (Germany); Miedzyzdroje and Sopot (Poland); Spittal (Austria); Olomouc (Czech Republic), as well as in the Netherlands, Ireland, United Kingdom or California, among others. During their European concerts tour in 2010, they obtained twenty awards: 16thBangor International Choral Competition (Northern Ireland); 56th Cork International Choral Festival (Ireland); 6th Mundus Cantat International Choral Festival (Poland); 63rd Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (United Kingdom); 28th Cantonigròs International Music Festival (Spain); and 56th International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja (Spain). In 1998, they won two first prizes and the Audience Prize in the ‘27th Florilege Vocal de Tours in Tours’, in France, and the Grand Prize ‘Città di Gorizia’, along with four first prizes in the 37th International Competition of Choral Singing ‘C.A. Seghizzi’ in Gorizia, Italy.
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Tuesday programme Tavor Chamber Choir (Ucrania) Directora: Oksana Demkiv Founded in November 2005, the choir is an institution of local art teachers and students. Their repertoire includes pieces by Ukrainian and foreigner classical composers, contemporary music, spiritual works and popular songs of Ukraine and the peoples of the world. They have won different national and international competitions and festivals, such as the 2nd Kozak Regional Contest of Chamber Choir (Drohobych) and the International Music Festival ‘Stargard Gospel Days’ in Poland.
The Choir of Beijing University of Technology (China) Director: Li Libei Director: Li Libei Founded in 1987, they represent the highest level in art education in Beijing. In the last years, the choir has won three international and six national awards. In 2002 and 2007, they took part in the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja, where they reached the second and third place. Their repertoire includes works of different countries, and they cooperate with choirs from America, Germany, Finland, Denmark and Egypt, among others.
KUD Branko Cvetkovic Belgrade (Serbia) Director: Danilo Tomic In their 63 years, the choir has become a cultural and art institution in their country, with over 6,000 concerts in Serbia and abroad. They have performed in the whole world and recorded two discs. The choir has won important awards in Serbia, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain and Poland. In the last years they have offered grand concerts and in 2008 they participated in the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja.
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The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony
Wednesday programme Corul Cantarad Arad (Romania) Director: Magdalena Lödi Created in 2015, the choir is formed by people with different ages and professions. They performed by the first time in the 1st International Festival of Religious Choral Music in the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral of Vârșet (Serbia), where they achieved the Excellence Degree. They have received acknowledgements in the National Sacred Music Festival and in the 7th International Festival of Choral Music Liviu Borlan, and obtained a prize for fostering traditional culture in the region of Maramureș (Romania)
The Girl’s Choir ‘Raniza’ (Belarus) Director: Victor Maslennikov Founded in 1981 in Minsk to give young talents access to training, the choir consists of 35 girls between 15 and 35 years old. They have been acknowledged with the Obraszovyi title for their excellence, the Narodnyi Choir prize to the best choir in the city and other prizes in countries as Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Italy or Russia, among others. Their repertoire includes ‘a cappella’, contemporary, classical, folk and sacred music.
Orfeón Universitario Puebla (México) Director: José Antonio Rincón Founded in October 1987 by José Antonio Rincón, they have offered tours throughout Latin America, Europe and Canada. They have presented more than 30 symphonic-choral works and sing madrigals, contemporary and popular songs. They have obtained different prizes in Greece, France and Puerto Rico, and their discography includes discs like ‘Mozaico’, ‘Puebla de mis amores’ or ‘Latin-American Christmas’, which obtained an acknowledgement. Currently, they are recording choral works by José Antonio Rincón.
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Thursday programme Coro Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga - UNAB (Colombia) Director: Rafael Ángel Suescún Mariño Formed by students and graduated in the UNAB, it was born more than two decades ago at the initiative of Sergio Acevedo Gómez. It is regarded as one of the best choirs in the country and has achieved numerous prizes in Argentina, Venezuela, Italy, Germany or Spain. They took part in the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja in 2009 and 2014, winning the awards to the Song from the Region of Origin and the 3rd Polyphony Prize, respectively.
Xolo Voces Blancas, Murcia (España) Director: Bernadet Kühne Founded in 1997 in Molina de Segura (Murcia), they intend to promote music than may be regarded as rarefied in the country. The choir offered their first concert in St Peter’s in Vatican City (Rome) and obtained prizes in the National Choir Contest in Totana and in the 24th Cantonigròs International Music Festival (Barcelona). After a three years pause, they achieved the 1st prize in the Contest in Ejea de los Caballeros, Zaragoza, in 2011.
Maranatha Christian University Choir (Indonesia) Director: Agustinus Bambang Jusana Founded on 30th October 1983 and conducted by Agustinus Bambang Jusana since 2002, the choir is formed by students and former students of the Christian University of Maranatha. Regarded as one of the best choirs in the country, they promote traditional Indonesian music offering concerts in their country and abroad. They have been acknowledged in national and international competitions, and hold the record for performing the longest Christmas song for more than five hours non-stop.
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The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony
Friday programme Female Chamber Choir Sv. Zlata Meglenska (Macedonia) Director: Letka Dimovska Polizova Founded by Letka Dimovska Polizova and formed by 22 female students, this choir is part of the Orthodox Church in Macedonia. They have offered concerts in more than 24 countries and have a large amount of acknowledgements and gold medals, including the Grand Choir Contest in Sochi, the Choir Contest in Riga, the World Choir Championship in Graz or the International Choir Competition in Rimini.
Grupo Vocal “Amitié”, Asturias (España) Director: David Pérez Fernández Created in October 2015 by a group of youngster, it was born with the aim to give musical service to the Cuenca del Nalón area and to carry out a remarkable art and music activity. Their achievements include the prizes -second in young choirs and audience awardobtained in the 46th National Choir Contest of Ejea de los Caballeros, as well as the first prize in the female choir category in the 70th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, in Wales.
University of Philippines Singing Ambassadors (Filipinas) Edgardo Lumbera Manguiat Since its foundation in 1980, the choir has achieved acknowledgements such as the grand Asian prize in the International Polyphony Contest ‘Guido D’Arezzo’ in Italy and the International Music Award in Paris. They have carried out international tours spreading Filipino culture and have represented their country before the UNESCO. Furthermore, they performed in the Sydney Opera in the Olympic Games. Formed by students, the choir is also involved in activities for the less privileged through awareness programmes.
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Jury and presenter DAVID COLADO CORONAS (SPAIN) Choir, orchestra and band director, and singer. He is art director of the National Youth Competition of Habaneras and Sea Song of Candás (Asturias), and director of the Coral Villa Blanca de Luarca. He has been soloist in opera produtions and taken part in the Europa Chor Akademie, under the direction of conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy or Plácido Domingo. Currently, he is the titular director of the ‘Banda Ciudad de Oviedo’ and the ‘Banda Sinfónica Infantil y Juvenil del Principado de Asturias’ orchestras.
NURIA FERNÁNDEZ HERRANZ (SPAIN) Lecturer of Choir Direction in the High School of Music of Castilla-La Mancha, currently she also teaches choir performance courses and carries out several projects in the University Carlos III of Madrid which have become a reference in the Spanish choral scene: the University Choir, the Scenic Music Programme for Children and the Choral Conducting Course. She is the director and founder of the VokalArs choir and president of the Pedagogical and Research Commission of the ‘Acción Social por la Música’ Foundation.
CÉSAR LIENDO (VENEZUELA) Venezuelan choir conductor, composer and singer, he is the director of the ‘Coro de Voces Oscuras de la Universidad Central de Venezuela’ since 1979, and the University Choir since 1980. He has been founder president of the Foundation and Federation of Choirs from Aragua and was secretary general of the Caribbean and Central America Choral Federation. He has carried out intense activity as choral music arranger, poet and composer, with a remarkable role as singer and songwriter. He has achieved important awards with his choirs in Curazao, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Spain.
JOSEP PRATS (SPAIN) He currently conducts the ‘Coral Cantiga’ (Barcelona) and the ‘Cor Ciutat de Tarragona’. He has been lecturer of the Theatre Institute of Barcelona and the High School of Music of the Liceu, associated director of the Spanish Radio-Television Choir (Madrid) and guest conductor invited by different choirs. He is the director of the programme ‘Cantània’ of the Pedagogical Service of the Auditorium of Barcelona and has been member of the jury of choral competitions in Tolosa, Trelew and Amiens, among others. Often he teaches choral conducting courses in Catalonia, France, Brazil and the Netherlands.
BERNIE SHERLOCK (IRELAND) Director of the award-winner New Dublin Voices Chamber Choir and the Culwick Choral Society -the longest-standing choir in Ireland-, she is also art director of educative programmes for the Association of Irish Choirs and representative of her country in the World Choir Council. For ten years, she was the choral conductor of the Music and Theatre School of the Dublin Institute of Technology and has been lecturer and speaker of the Dublin Trinity College, where she conducted the University of Dublin Choral Society.
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The 64th edition of the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony
Elena Sánchez, presenter. Journalist and presenter of the Spanish Television, she will be in charge of hosting the Contest for the second year. She has presented news bulletins in ‘Canal 24 horas’ and currently hosts the cinema programmes ‘Días de cine’ and ‘Historia de nuestro cine’ in the second channel of Spanish Television (La 2). She has covered ‘Goya’ Awards and ‘Príncipe de Asturias’ awards, and has been the spokesperson for the votes of Spain in Eurovision festivals 2011 and 2012.
Dissemination in the media The Contest has always generated intense media interest. Hundreds of professionals get accredited every year and report the details of every edition. That is why, in the last three years, the Contest has enhanced its international media coverage and works in coordination with journalists of the countries of origin of the participant choirs. The dissemination of the contest has been boosted by the Internet as a window to the world, and the online broadcast of the concerts in real time has achieved the creation of a ‘digital audience’ including people all around the world. Visits to the Contest website and messages received through the different communication channels give an indication of this and every year Internet users from over 40 countries visit us to get to know every detail. Moreover, the Contest renovates its ‘virtual’ image this year with a modern and intuitive website and a mobile app (Habaneras Torrevieja) launched by the Habaneras Municipal Board. The Contest will be more open to the world with this app, that will give the user the possibility to be informed about the different events organised, get to know the terms and conditions, apply for participation, listen to
different recordings, access social media, read the latest news or receive notifications. Follow us! This year, you can also form part of #habaneras2018. You can get to know all details about the Contest on Facebook (Certamen Habaneras Torrevieja), Instagram (@certhabaneras) and Twitter (@ certhabaneras), as well as searching for the hashtags #habaneras2018 #habanerastorrevieja and #torrevieja. And, in addition, you will be able to enjoy live broadcasts online at our website, www. habaneras.org.
Parallel activities In the context of the 64th International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja, Torrevieja will host the 5th International Habanera Conference (on 23rd and 24th July) and the 7th International Course of Vocal Technique and Performance of Torrevieja (from 25th to 28th July) The Conference is organised by the Municipal Board of Habaneras, the International Association of the Habanera and the University of Alicante. Specialists from different universities, organisations and music schools will take part in this conference, which will be opened by the world’s most renowned expert in the field, the Professor Emeritus of the Complutense University of Madrid, Eli Rodríguez. The singing course, directed the the Singing Professor of the High School of Music ‘Joaquín Rodrigo’ of Valencia, Gloria Fabuel, is addressed to professional singers and song students of all levels. The course has been embraced with great enthusiasm and places for active students were already booked in the first week, but any person interested that meets the profile can attend the course as unregistered student. On the last day, Saturday 28th, a final concert by the students will take place at the Casino Cultural Society of Torrevieja. Likewise, during the past week, the 3rd Hispanocuban Festival ‘De ida y vuelta’ has been carried out as a cultural meeting that fosters, explores and celebrates culture fusion between peoples of Spain and Cuba through cinema, art, music and knowledge.
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Un lugar único A unique place Torrevieja es un municipio costero ubicado en el sur de la provincia de Alicante. La ciudad, una de las más importantes de la Comunitat Valenciana, es conocida por su Certamen, pero también por sus playas, sus salinas, su naturaleza o su gastronomía. Su famosa laguna rosa y sus montañas de sal la convierten en un lugar único. El Parque Natural de las Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja ocupa más de la mitad del término municipal, por lo que la ciudad, además de ser elegida por miles de turistas cada año, también es el lugar que muchas aves eligen para nidificar o invernar. La calidad de sus playas y sus recónditas calas hacen de Torrevieja un lugar fabuloso para disfrutar del Mar Mediterráneo. Sus 15 km de litoral y el inmejorable clima que tiene durante el año, con 18º de temperatura media anual y 320 días de sol al año, la convierten en un lugar perfecto para residir, pero también para pasar unos días de vacaciones. Además, el municipio ha logrado esta temporada seis banderas azules, un reconocimiento internacional que avala la calidad de sus playas. Los amantes del mar tienen la diversión asegurada. En nuestra costa se pueden hacer actividades como ski acuático, vela, surf, alquilar una embarcación o descubrir la tradición pesquera de nuestra ciudad en las rutas marineras denominadas Pescaturimo. Otro de los grandes atractivos de Torrevieja es su oferta cultural. El Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonía es indudablemente el mayor evento de la ciudad, pero la apuesta cultural es permanente durante el año con iniciativas que van desde conciertos hasta exposiciones, teatro o arte callejero, y este verano por ejemplo nos visitan artistas de la talla de Joan Manuel Serrat o Luz Casal. Además, el Ayuntamiento está haciendo una apuesta por trasladar la cultura a la calle y en cualquier rincón te puedes sorprender con música, danza o arte en cualquiera de sus manifestaciones. La rica y variada gastronomía es un distintivo de toda la comarca de la Vega Baja, donde se ubica Torrevieja. El pescado azul o los arroces son únicos y deliciosos, pero la gastronomía local además de platos tradicionales, también ofrece opciones innovadoras que fusionan la cocina de distintas partes del mundo.
Torrevieja is a coastal town located in south of Alicante province. The city, one of the most important in the Valencian Community, is known for its Contest, but also for its beaches, its salt lakes, its nature and its gastronomy. Its famous pink lake and its salt mountains turn it into a unique place. The Natural Park of the Salt Lakes of La Mata and Torrevieja covers more than a half of its territory, and that is why the city is not only chosen by thousands of tourists every year, but also by many bird species to nest or spend the winter. The quality of its beaches and its secluded coves make Torrevieja a wonderful place to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea. Its 15 kms of coast and its excellent weather throughout the year, with an average temperature of 18ºC and 320 sunny days a year, turn it into a perfect place to live, but also to spend the holidays. Furthemore, this year, the city has achieved six blue flags, an international acknowledgement that guarantees the quality of beaches. Sea lovers have fun guaranteed. Our coast is suitable for activities like water skiing, sailing, windsurfing, renting a boat or discovering the fish tradition of the city in our sea routes, called ‘Pescaturismo’. Another main attraction of Torrevieja is its cultural offer. The International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony is no doubt the most important event in the city, but the commitment with culture is permanent throughout the year, with initiatives ranging from concerts to exhibitions, theatre or street art. For instance, this Summer, Torrevieja will host concerts of renowned artists like Joan Manuel Serrat or Luz Casal. Likewise, the Town Council is committed to taking culture to the streets, and you can be surprised with music, dance or any form of art in any corner of Torrevieja. Its rich and varied gastronomy is a distinctive feature of the whole Vega Baja region, where Torrevieja is located. Blue fish or rices are unique and delicious, but local gastronomy also includes, along with traditional dishes, innovative options that fuse kitchens from different parts of the world.
Lugares emblemáticos El Casino -uno de los edificios más emblemáticos de la ciudad, inaugurado en 1896-, las Salinas, las Eras de la Sal o los museos flotantes -el submarino Delfín S-61 y la patrulla Albatros III- son algunos de los lugares que hacen que Torrevieja no sea exclusivamente un destino de sol y playa. Las Salinas de Torrevieja son la planta de producción salina más grande de Europa, y han sido el motor económico de la ciudad durante décadas. La semana pasada y después de mucho esfuerzo se convirtieron en destino turístico y ya se pueden visitar. El recinto histórico de las Eras de la Sal, que funcionó como depósito de sal antiguamente, es otro de los lugares emblemáticos del municipio. Cada año acoge a nuestro Certamen, pero también se puede visitar en las rutas guiadas que organiza la Concejalía de Turismo. Puedes descubrir todos los secretos que esconde Torrevieja en turismodetorrevieja.com.
Emblematic places The Casino -une of the most emblematic buildings in the city, inaugurated in 1896-, the saltworks, the ‘Eras de la Sal’ or the floating museums -Delfín S-61 submarine and Albatros III patrol ship- are some of the places that make Torrevieja is not just a sun and beach destination. The saltworks of Torrevieja are the biggest salt production plant in Europe, and have been the economic motor of the city during decades. Last week, and after much effort, they became a tourist destination and can be visited. The historical ‘Eras de la Sal’ pier, which formerly worked as a salt deposit, is another of the emblematic places in the town. Every year, it is the stage for our Contest, but it can also be visited in the guided tours organised by the Local Council for Tourism. You can discover all hidden secrets of Torrevieja in turismodetorrevieja.com