SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 4th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
This upcoming Friday, Queen Sofía will lead the extraordinary concert at the Cathedral of La Laguna in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain, of which La Laguna is currently at the helm.
Commencing at 7:00 p.m., the event will mark the commencement of a series of cultural activities and performances set to grace the 15 cities within the Group in the following months.
Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez of La Laguna, also the president of the Heritage Cities, expressed gratitude in a statement for “the enduring backing of the Royal Family towards the work we undertake within the Group in safeguarding our monumental and intangible heritage, exemplified by Queen Sofía’s presence at this exceptional concert.”
The mayor noted that “in a special manner, the former queen has been steadfastly supporting the Chamber Music Series concerts in the various cities of the Group year after year, and it is heartening that she has chosen to attend this significant event in La Laguna marking the 30th anniversary celebrations.”
The concert will showcase soprano Raquel Lojendio and tenor Airam Hernández, accompanied by a chamber ensemble comprising Julia Nikoliszak on first violin, Eugenia Jaubert de Valcárcel on second violin, Alba Gorrea Muñoz on viola, Ciro Hernández on cello, and Satomi Moritomoto on piano.
The repertoire includes compositions by Handel, Schubert, Haydn, Beethoven, Bizet, Mozart, Debussy, Barber, Fauré, Gounod, and Leonard Cohen, arranged by Ciro Hernández for string quartet and piano.
Entry to the concert is free, with invitations available for collection.
These invitations will be distributed to the public at the Teatro Leal box office on Tuesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Due to space constraints, only one invitation per person will be issued.
The La Laguna City Council will install a large screen outside the cathedral to enable a larger audience to enjoy the concert.
Besides Queen Sofía, attendees will include the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, the President of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, Astrid Pérez, the Bishop of the Diocese of Tenerife, Bernardo Álvarez, the mayors of the 15 cities within the Group, along with other civil and military dignitaries.
The Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain was established in 1993 as a non-profit association (declared of Public Utility by the Ministry of the Interior), with the aim of jointly defending the historical and cultural heritage of these Spanish cities and supporting the preservation and promotion of the particular ways of life these historic centers require, through collaborative projects and initiatives, fostering the exchange of experiences and addressing common challenges.
La Laguna joined the Group in 1999, adding its name to those of Alcalá de Henares, Ávila, Baeza, Cáceres, Córdoba, Cuenca, Ibiza, Mérida, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, Tarragona, Toledo, and Úbeda. La Laguna will assume leadership of the Group until July 2024.
CROSS ROUTES
To involve citizens in this momentous occasion, the Department of Tourism of La Laguna, overseeing the Tourism Commission of the Heritage Cities Group, has arranged several guided tours through La Laguna’s historic centre for this Saturday.
This initiative was emphasised by Tourism Councillor, Estefanía Díaz, underscoring the opportunity these tours present for local residents, as well as visitors and tourists, to immerse themselves in the charm and history of La Laguna.
The six scheduled tours will be conducted in Spanish simultaneously, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Each tour will focus on a specific theme starting from various locations, allowing participants to choose based on their interests in different themes: Traditional Architecture, starting from Doctor Olivera Square; Religious Architecture, departing from the Fountain of Plaza de La Concepción; Traditional Trades, meeting at Hermano Ramón Square; Foundation of the City, at Plaza del Adelantado; La Laguna and its squares, commencing at Plaza de Santo Domingo, and Streets with Charm, assembly point at Deán Palahí alley, opposite the Convent of Santa Catalina.
Additionally, a sampling of lyrical music has been arranged at different points along the routes, creating an ideal backdrop to rediscover the beauty of the historical complex and to enhance the walk with the gastronomic and commercial offerings of the area.
Online registration has been facilitated for convenience, accessible through the following link: https://turismo.aytolalaguna.es/turismo_registro/registro.ph…
