Dmitri Shostakovich was a Soviet composer, conductor, and pianist; Pablo de Sarasate was born in Navarra and established a musical career that remains prominent among aficionados of classical music; Manuel de Falla split his life between Spain and Argentina… Johann Sebastian Bach, Carlos Gardel, and John Lennon are names that, if anything, require less introduction. The fusion of their works, along with others such as Agustín Lara, Francisco Tárrega, and Tchaikovsky, provided the foundation for the Puertos de Christmas Concert in Tenerife, a much-anticipated event that celebrated its 30th anniversary. The performance, while honouring this diverse array of composers, was characterised by its richness and variety. The Christmas spirit was notably present, infused with a touch of the Canary Islands.
With London-like punctuality, at 7:30 p.m., this festive offering spanning three decades commenced, “awakening and sharing emotions from Tenerife,” as described by the presenter. “It is our finest gift to the world in the form of music,” he proclaimed before the approximately 10,000 people in attendance, who were swept away by the sounds of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra (OST). They were joined on December 25 by violinist Leticia Moreno, accordionist Ksenija Sidorova, and guitarist Rafael Aguirre, all conducted (a notable update for this edition) not by the honorary head of the Tenerife Symphony, Victor Pablo Perez, but by the young Mexican conductor Ivan Lopez Reinoso.
Hailing from Guanajuato, López Reinoso is known as an accomplished conductor with a distinguished international career. He has collaborated with esteemed ensembles such as the Zurich Philharmonic, the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville, the Oviedo Filarmonía, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, in addition to conducting at major venues including the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Opernhaus Zürich, and the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville. This Wednesday, he showcased his adeptness on stage at the port of Santa Cruz, delivering an exhilarating performance to satisfy even the most discerning audiences.
Instant Connection
Festive Overture, by Dmitri Shostakovich, opened the evening. It served as an initial engagement, a means to create rapport between the orchestra and the audience. The connection appeared immediate. Subsequently, the musical programme crafted for the occasion included Fantasia on themes from the opera Carmen, by Pablo de Sarasate, and Yesterday, by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. At this juncture, the concert was undeniably in full swing.
The 20,000 square metres at the Los Llanos Dock offered a scene that, despite its repetition over the years, remains extraordinary, encapsulating the communion between the Symphony and the audience that occurs annually. The Short Life (Manuel de Falla), Granada (Agustín Lara), Souvenir of the Alhambra (Francisco Tárrega), Romance of Love/Anonymous Romance (anonymous, though often credited to Narciso Yepes), The Nutcracker (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky), Concerto for Harpsichord No. 1 in D minor (Johann Sebastian Bach), Libertango (Astor Piazzolla), and For a Head (Carlos Gardel and Alfredo Le Pera) rounded out the programme.
Árgel Campos, Gara Alemán and Benito Cabrera. / Maria Pisaca
However, the excitement did not end there. “Our surprises of the night are infused with Canarian flavour,” the presenter teased at the conclusion of the concert. “This composition is set to become an anthem of Tenerife from this day forward,” he noted. Joining the Christmas repertoire was a piece specifically composed by Tenerife director Diego Navarro, which is expected to become a staple of the Christmas recital. Its title: Christmas of Light and Sea.
Culminating Moment
On stage emerged timplista Benito Cabrera and singers Gara Alemán and Árgel Campos, who performed the identity piece One on the Same Sea. This was the highlight moment, the pinnacle of the evening, representing one of the numerous reasons why this concert has become an iconic cultural event within the Archipelago. It began in 1994 as a Christmas greeting from the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and has transformed into a platform to showcase Tenerife’s musical talent globally. “Over these 30 years, renowned conductors and soloists of both national and international stature have graced this unique stage with the Tenerife Symphony,” the organisers emphasized prior to the event.
The initiative also serves a charitable purpose: the funds gathered from the concert will be entirely directed towards supporting foundations and associations that operate in the Canary Islands, such as Teidela, Race for Life, and the Hemophilia Association of Tenerife.
