SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, May 23. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The municipality of La Laguna pays homage to the figure of Elfidio Alonso with a show that reviews the human and artistic career of the ‘father’ of the mythical musical group Los Sabandeños.
‘Elfidio’, which brings together 18 songs in concert in a format that mixes music, stage interpretation and audiovisual material, can be enjoyed at the Teatro Leal on June 8 and 9 at 8:30 p.m., and on Saturday 10 at 9:00 p.m.
The show was presented this Tuesday at a press conference by Elfidio Alonso himself, who was accompanied by the mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; the Councilor for Fiestas, Badel Albelo; the musical director of Los Sabandeños, Israel Espino, one of the members of the group, Besay Pérez and the person in charge of the dramaturgy of the show, Luis O’Malley.
The direction of the function is carried out by Mario Vega, collects a note from the City Council.
“For me it is very exciting to receive this recognition in the city where I was born 88 years ago. It is a tribute that I have to share with all those who have contributed to the existence of Los Sabandeños, to its 60 years of uninterrupted activity despite the difficulties “said Elfidio Alonso, who displayed a privileged memory by recalling the 32 countries visited by the group, the 116 albums recorded and the more than 3,000 concerts offered throughout their career.
He also highlighted “the effort” of many people because alone “he would have been incapable of carrying out a work of this magnitude.”
Alonso also thanked his colleagues, the mayor and the La Laguna City Council for this recognition in his hometown because his career as a Laguna resident is what he values most, “along with the camaraderie and brotherhood among all the members of the group.”
For his part, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez expressed “enormous admiration and respect” for the figure of Elfidio Alonso, “one of the mirrors in which one has to look.”
The mayor assured that the founder of Los Sabandeños is “a person who honors the cultural heritage of the region”, which has made Canarian culture “known nationally and internationally”, while stressing the importance of ” the tributes are made in life”.
In this same line, Badel Albelo expressed himself, who highlighted the teaching of Elfidio Alonso, whom he described as “one of the most important figures in the musical tradition and folklore of the islands” and stressed the relevance of this tribute concert to “put value everything he has done” for the music of the archipelago.
Luis O’Malley stressed that this is “a necessary show”, full of stage surprises, which tries to delve into “the most human part of Elfidio Alonso” through thirty interviews with relatives and friends of the honoree.
It is, as Israel Espino pointed out, “about narrating his life through his music, there are more than 200 songs in his own handwriting and the Canary Islands had to return all that love to him”.
Also Besay Pérez, representative of the new generation of voices that make up Los Sabandeños, made reference to “the illusion of being able to pay tribute to him in his city, in his theater and in his streets.”
