Barrios Orquestados presents its new show Cuerdas in order to raise awareness about political and cultural borders. The musical-social project embarks once again on an ambitious idea that combines multiple disciplines such as musical performance, dance or staging, all including the participation of the public.
The production, through a flexible and ductile format, is adapted to be replicated in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Tenerife, respectively in the month of June, with the involvement of the children, young people and families who participate in the orchestras and choirs present in each of these islands.
After the premiere in Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, Cuerdas will take place in Lanzarote on Sunday, June 23. The Municipal Theater of Tías, ceded by the City Council of Tías, opens its doors to welcome the families of the project. Finally, the Tenerife public will have the opportunity to attend on Saturday, June 29 at the Municipal Auditorium of La Matanza de Acentejo, with the collaboration of the local council.
"The string is the semantic and metaphorical matter to which we cling to argue a story whose plot immerses us in the most pressing, social and psychological dramas of the human condition," explains José Brito, director of the project.
"This show has the same basis as all our shows, it is a message of peace and shows the power of music as a tool to transmit values," says Polo Vallejo, composer and co-creator of the work. Work is being done simultaneously on the four islands since the beginning of the year. Ninfa Santana, the interpretation coach who supports the teaching work, highlights the tenacity of children and adolescents: "They come from different neighborhoods, from different realities, however, when they arrive at rehearsals everyone shows themselves as true actors."
In each island in which this show is represented, all the children and young people, aged between 4 and 18, and their families present in the musical-social project Barrios Orquestados participate. They total 609 people: 260 in Gran Canaria, 162 in Tenerife, 106 in Lanzarote and 81 in Fuerteventura.
Under the musical direction of the young composer Álvaro Díaz, the instrumental accompaniment present throughout the show will be provided by the ensemble Cuerdas, a group of professional musicians of bowed and percussed string wind-wood and percussion.
Borders fade in this show for several reasons. It will begin in the outer space of the theaters where an orchestrated children's parade will guide the public to the seats. This proposal aims to raise awareness about any political and cultural difference using the string as a metaphorical element. Each of the pieces manifests a background based on social criticism: migration, war, inequality, etc.
Interactivity is one of the great bets of this new Barrios Orquestados show. The project breaks the fourth wall, encouraging the public to be an interpretive element in the entire scenic framework through songs, simple choreographies and various sound effects. Each attendee will find in the seats a hand booklet, printed with the support of Fundación DISA, where they will observe the indications to participate in each piece.
The tickets have a donation price of seven euros and can be purchased through the TomaTicket website. All proceeds will go to the execution and production of the work that involves a set of material and professional costs from lighting to audiovisual production. The show 'Cuerdas' will be captured in a film that will compile the four premieres, under the cinematographic direction of Amaury Santana.
Barrios Orquestados was conceived in 2012 by José Brito and Laura Brito. It began in the Gran Canaria neighborhood of Tamaraceite to create an orchestra with girls and boys from vulnerable socio-economic environments and with difficult access to culture. Since then, it has spread to 13 venues on four islands - Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura - and has crossed the Atlantic to Chile and Honduras. This project offers free musical training to minors and their families, with the loan of instruments to each student. In this way, music is a tool for inclusion and social development.