Musical Events Coming Up In June
19th Festival Internacional de Cine de Lanzarote
New Edition of Manrique Publication
JUNE AND THE ARTS ARE BUSTING OUT ALL OVER
Musical Events Coming Up In June
May was an incredibly busy month for the arts on Lanzarote, but June doesn’t look like letting us out of its grip either. We begin this week’s piece with a list of musical events later in this month and urge you to check out the Cabildo web site and look out on Miguel’s what’s on section for confirmation of the details below and of events in other art disciplines.
On offer this month there is a choice of full blown orchestra music, or the contemporary songs of a new duo of already successful individual songwriters.
We even have a collection of choirs to look forward to with Yaiza, San Gines, San Bartolome and Teguise being represented.
Both traditional and modern Flamenco will be seen at a concert in which a friend of ours is one of the guest vocalists, and there is well known female flamenco dancer also performing.
The widely travelled and hard-working Lanzarote Ensemble will be performing some of the compositions that were shaped by and helped shape the twentieth century.
Added to all this, on selected Saturdays, during June, July and August, The Orchestra Classical Lanzarote (OCL) will play a series of six FREE concerts at The case de Cultura Augustin de la Hoz as part of the 4th Classical Concert Series. Last yea’´s series was excellent but advance notice of dates and times was hard to find, so check whenever and wherever you can.
The major concerts in June, include;
Saturday 15th June
SILVIA PÉREZ CRUZ & MARCO MEZQUIDA
Teatro Víctor Fernández Gopar “El Salinero”
Date: Saturday 15th June
Time: 8.30 pm
Duration: 90 minutos
Admission: 20 €
Tickets available from The Department of Culture Of The Cabildo Of Lanzarote from 9.00 to 14.00 hours. Also can be purchased at the ticket office of Teatro Victor Fernandez Gopar “El Salinero”on the day of the performance, from one hour before the start of the show, but only in the case that sales have not been exhausted previously.
Silvia Pérez Cruz, Singer, and pianist Marco Mezquida, having each embarked on their own projects, then felt that it was time to cross musical paths. Completely organically, and without pretensions or preconceptions, they made discoveries in their song lists when talking through them artistically. These discoveries led them to write their own songs and also to engage with folk songs and the works of fellow writers. These songs serve as an excuse to travel together and enjoy the landscape, the here and the now, both physically and metaphorically. These travels have no specific beginning nor ending.
Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June
VOCES DE UNA ISLA
1º Encuentro de Música Coral Isla de Lanzarote
Teatro Víctor Fernández Gopar “El Salinero”
Date: Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June
Time 8.30 pm
Duration; 100 minutos
Admission: 5 €
Tickets available from The Department of Culture Of The Cabildo Of Lanzarote from 9.00 to 14.00 hours. Also can be purchased at the ticket office of Teatro Victor Fernandez Gopar “El Salinero”on the day of the performance, from one hour before the start of the show, but only in the case that sales have not been exhausted previously.
One of the most popular manifestations of vocal music in Lanzarote is associated with the long tradition of the existence of different choirs and vocal groups. In order to raise awareness and give value to the musical work done by these cultural groups, the Cabildo de Lanzarote organizes a meeting of music Coral Island of Lanzarote, for this first edition, featuring the Coral polyphonic “San Ginés’, the choir “Singing Cribò”, “Yaiza” Coral, Coral polyphonic “Teguise”, the “San Bartolomé” Coral, the Coral and “In dulci jubilo”.
Programmes:
Friday 21st June
Coral “El Cribo Canta”
Coral “In Dulci Jubilo”
Coral “San Bartolomé”
Saturday 22nd June
Coral Polifónica “San Ginés”
Coral “Yaiza”
Coral Polifónica “Teguise”
Friday 28th June
ANTONIO DE LA ROSA & FLAMENCO FUSIÓN
“Como el agua”
Artista invitado: Carlos Loma
Teatro Víctor Fernández Gopar “El Salinero”
Date Friday 28th June
Time: 8.30 pm
Duration: 80 minutos
Admission; 10 €
Tickets available from The Department of Culture Of The Cabildo Of Lanzarote from 9.00 to 14.00 hours. Also can be purchased at the ticket office of Teatro Victor Fernandez Gopar “El Salinero”on the day of the performance, from one hour before the start of the show, but only in the case that sales have not been exhausted previously.
A trip through the ´sidetracks and detours of flamenco music. Among the invited artists are the singer Carlos Loma, Ayoze Rodrígez on clarinet and saxophone, and the dancer Anna Villacampa
Saturday 29th June
LANZAROTE ENSEMBLE
“El triángulo del siglo XX”
Casa de la Cultura Agustín de La Hoz
date: Saturday 29th June
Time 8.00 pm
Duration: 60 minutos
Admission: 10 €
Check with the venue or tourist information
The twentieth century saw an explosion, that reverberated around the arts scene, of new tendencies and avant-garde movements. Lanzarote Ensemble, in this concert, alludes to the three sources of greater artistic activity in the first half of the 20th century, which were: Germany, France, and North America. The ironic creation of Charles Loeffler, the subtlety of Francis Poulenc and the brazenness of Gordon Jacob are the three pillars of this concert, which is completed with the premiere of the “Engine” work of Lanzarote composer Nino Díaz, composed especially for this time.
Further enquiries for all musical events: www.culturalanzarote.com
AND THE AWARD FOR BEST FILMS GO TO….
19th Festival Internacional de Cine de Lanzarote
The recent closing awards presentation of the 19th Festival Internacional de Cine de Lanzarote included a musical performance and was hosted by comedian and magician Nacho Peña, a regular contributor to different advertising campaigns for beer or even video clips of artists such as El Vega.
Ismael Curbelo, director of the International Festival Of Cinema of Lanzarote, opened the gala event, introduced by Nacho: ´I have spent thirteen years as director of this festival and have seen the highly positive evolution of the annual event,´ said Ismael. ´It has now become a Festival that receives more than 3,000 short films from almost 120 countries and they are watched by more than 3,000 children. The public viewers serve as a splendid jury and I have to say that I am proud of what the Festival has grown into.´
The first award of the night was the audience / public award for Best Documentary short film and it was voted to Born In Gambia, by Natxo Leuza.
´Thank you to all those who have seen my short film, to Ismael and all those who work at the Festival,´ Natxo said on receiving the award for a film that looks at the problem of three children who live in a country where they are destined to a future without education and are without rights.
Three judges, Fran Perea, Marcos Méndez and Antonio Velázquez also voted for this film and Antonio noted that it was ´interesting to see how we have agreed not only amongst ourselves but also with the public.´ He suggested that such voting confirmed Natxo Leuza as the undisputed winner in this section.
The award for Best Animated Short Film was given to Milchmanner, a German film by Bãhnert Aljoscha and Burakowski Michelle, and was presented by Sandra Wahlbeck, Manuel Castillo and Gianluca Gielle.
´It has been very difficult to pick a winner,´ said Sandra, ´because there are high level and very talented people working in this category.´
Gianluca added that “it is very difficult to choose the best animated short because you have to think about so many matters such as technique, sound, and concept.´
Manuel Castillo concluded the presentation saying, ´it has been amazing to see all the films because they are all very good and I agree with my colleagues that it has been a difficult task.´
The work deals with three people who buy and sell mothers´ milk, and explores, in only three and a half minutes, what is a growing social phenomenon. Although the directors of this victorious short film were unable to attend, they sent another video expressing their gratitude to the Festival.
The professional jury also made a special mention of a contribution here from Martin David and Robin Mathieu.
Interestingly, the public in this category of Animation Short Film, awarded their prize to Talent Scout by José Herrera, in which the eponymous hero discovers an unknown person who becomes the greatest talent in the history of Spanish Dance.
The three judges of the category for The Best Film Produced In The Canary Islands were Pablo Blanco, Andrés Santana and Fermín Otamendi who selected Other Beds, made by Jonay García.
´Thanks to the jury and the Festival, for selecting a film like this, that is complex and sensitive,´ said Jonay in acceptance. ´I think winning this will focus public attention on the film and give it continued life,´ he added of a film that suggests all we as humans need to feel alive is a bit of affection.
Nevertheless, the vote from the public went to Wines Of Lanzarote: El Relevo, created by David Hernandez, Pedro Pérez and Mario Ferrer. For David, this was the second time that he and his production company, Liken Films, had received the audience award for the best Film Produced In The Canary Islands category. David’s film, this year, discusses the problems in ensuring the necessary re-generation and renewal in vineyards so unique as those in Geria. The film includes interviews with experts in the local wine industry as well as extraordinary environment images.
When looking at Short Films Produced In The Canary Islands, the jury decided to give two special mentions; one to Hug, a Shelma Zebensuí piece, and another to Recognise Us, by Marta Fuenar and Raquel Castelló.
The Best Short Film Of National Fiction saw Ana, by Fernando Bonelli, land the judges´ award. In the presentation ceremony she told the audience, ´ Thank you, Ismael, for fighting for this Festival. It is an honour to receive this award. This is a prize for our team, a titanic team.´
This short film gives us an interesting reflection on the importance of communication, showing two characters in which the most important emotions are spoken, even if it is uncomfortable to make them so. The award was presented by Eva Llorach, Antonia San Juan and Pedro Ayose.
Special mention in this category was also made of Background, by Toni Bestard.
For the public, The Best Short Film Of National Fiction was Happy Friday. Made by José Antonio Campos Aguilera, this was a short piece of essential viewing in which the life of Chari, its protagonist, is contained by national, family and class borders. However, the film explores how capitalism might offer an opportunity to break down such barriers.
It was remarkable that the event should then close with the presentation of another award about which the public and professional panels had agreed. Their mutual support was in the category of Best International Short Film and both juries selected Skin, about the pro-actions of, and the shocking reaction to, a ruthless war. Film maker Guy Nativ was presented with the prestigious award in this important sector.
The Festival had even managed, in two categories, to please alike the the audience and the afficienado, two bodies who often disagree over both the quality and purpose of art.
NEW ARCHITECTURE AND OLD ARGUMENTS
New Edition of Manrique Publication
These all across the arts pages are written to celebrate the culture and arts of Lanzarote and any viewpoint offered of politics is one with only a small p. I probably straddle the fence that was painted by 10 CC with their line calling for ´art for art’s sake but money for God’s sake´ in their hit song of that title.
These all across the arts pages are written to celebrate the culture and arts of Lanzarote and any viewpoint offered of politics is one with only a small p. I probably straddle the fence that was painted by Manchester based pop group, 10 CC in the lyrics of one of their hits of the nineteen seventies.
Art For Art’s Sake reached number five in the UK charts, when it was released off their album, How Dare You, in 1975. The title of the song derives from the fact that, Hymie Gouldman, father of band member and song writer Graham, often used to advise his son, ´Art for art’s sake, money for God’s sake, okay?
In The Daily Mail in, 2007, Graham described Art For Art’s Sake as ´a wry comment on the values of the music business, which became ever more apparent as our career developed.´ He recalled that he had started writing the song with only that title line in mind and had to work backwards to complete it, with band member Eric Stewart, who later accompanied Lol Crème in sharing lead vocals on the song.
The advice from Hymie always sounded to me like a somewhat ambiguous double-edged sword that perhaps asked more questions than it answered. Artists since ancient times have had to decide whether to create to satisfy their own artistic curiosity or to create to attract commercial interest, and thus earn a living. Should an artist be protective of his art or instead prepare it for light years of travel, as a friend of mine once described it?
I raise these issues only because I detect some slight tensions surrounding the presentation of works left by the late and much revered Lanzarote artist, Cesar Manrique.
My somewhat unschooled, and therefore merely subjective, view is that the island is fully and joyfully celebrating the anniversary of the centenary of the birth of Cesar Manrique through drama, music, dance, visual arts and literature among many other disciplines. This all seems to be cohesively working to introduce new generations of indigenous islanders to his work, including emerging local artists, as well as new residents on the island and the massive number of tourists who will visit this year.
As some readers will know I used these pages as a platform recently to thank The Cabildo for all I perceived them to be achieving in delivering so many free commemorative events, so I am disappointed to learn of some recent tension.
To complement these celebrations, The Cabildo of Lanzarote has restored a publication of Manrique’s work, more than three decades after the latest edition published in 1988.
The Cabildo of Lanzarote, and the Fundación Fernando Higueras, recently came together at the El Almacén CIC to present the re-edition of the book ‘New Architecture’ of César Manrique and his collaborators, although the Fundación César Manrique (FCM) rejected an invitation to partner The Cabildo in this enterprise, saying they refute the re-issue of the work.
As one of the scores of commemorative events taking place to mark the centenary, the Cabildo of Lanzarote and the Fundación Fernando Higueras last week launched the reissue of this work by César Manrique and his collaborators, Fernando Higueras, Agustín de Espinosa, Juan Ramírez de Lucas, Francisco Nieva, Carlos Miguel and José María Vellíbre. This third edition is a facsimile of the original 1974 publication and includes a contribution by Francisco Rojas Farina Fachico, not printed in previous editions.
The presentation of this third edition of the book has been overseen by the head of publications of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and director and writer, Félix Hormiga, and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation Fernando Higueras, Alberto Humanes. At the press conference, he stressed the incalculable value of this work to demonstrate the essence of architecture and traditional and popular constructions of Lanzarote.
