The 'Canary Islands International Music Festival' celebrates its 40th edition in style, with prestigious conductors, soloists and orchestras of the highest international level. In Lanzarote it will offer eight concerts and one in La Graciosa, between January 14 and February 3, 2024.
The 'Bremen Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra', under the baton of the 'child prodigy' Tarmo Peltokoski, will be on the Island, among others; a chamber ensemble from the British Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; the charismatic countertenor Jakub J. Orlinski, together with the baroque orchestra Il Pomo d'Oro, formed by some of the best specialists in early music; and an ensemble from the Gran Canaria Philharmonic.
The program is completed with the proposals of the In Parallel section of the FIMC: the concert of the prestigious 'Cassadó Duo' (cello and piano), together with the bailaor Iván Vargas, the multidisciplinary shows 'Océano' and 'Ángaro', and the concert of the pianist Othoniel Rodríguez. All this in spaces in Arrecife, Haría, San Bartolomé and Tías. The Cassadó Duo will repeat the concert in La Graciosa as part of their tour of several islands.
The Minister of Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, Migdalia Machín, highlighted this Friday during the press conference offered to announce the FIMC program in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, that "the Festival has become over its 40 years of history in the Canarian cultural event of most prestige and with greater international projection" and highlighted "the commitment of the regional Executive to bring culture and classical music to the eight island territories, so that all Canarians, and of course, those who visit us during these days, have the possibility to enjoy all the talent that the event concentrates".
For his part, the Minister of Culture of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Jesús Machín, encouraged "the population of Lanzarote and Graciosa to attend the scheduled concerts, as it is a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the most renowned symphonic formations and the most internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists".
The director of the festival, Jorge Perdigón, remarked that each of the concerts that will arrive in Lanzarote are "of a formidable quality, with the presence of several of the best groups in the world".
Between January 14 and February 3
Organized by the Government of the Canary Islands, in collaboration with the Island Council and under the artistic direction of Jorge Perdigón, the program of the 40th FIMC in Lanzarote will begin on Sunday, January 14 at the Auditorio Jameos del Agua with the string ensemble of the 'Gran Canaria Philharmonic', under the baton of maestro Karel Mark Chichon. Together they will assume the premiere of one of the commissioned works of the festival, a score signed by the composer from Lanzarote, Samuel Aguilar. They will also perform works by Shostakovich and Grieg and will feature soloists such as Javier Laso (piano).
The 'Cassadó Duo' also arrives in Lanzarote accompanied by the bailaor Iván Vargas to perform the program 'Hechizo y duende', with which they pay tribute to García Lorca on the 125th anniversary of his birth, with works of the 20th century Spanish performed by Marta Moll (piano) and Damián Martínez (cello). It will be on January 18 at the Teatro Municipal de Tías, and the following day, Friday 19, at the Centro Sociocultural Inocencia Páez, in La Graciosa.
The 'Bremen Chamber Philharmonic', a cultural emblem of this city and of Germany, will perform on January 24 at the Jameos del Agua under the baton of the young Finn Tarmo Peltokoski who, at only 23 years old, is the current principal guest conductor of the Bremen formation. They are accompanied by the soprano Chen Reiss, soloist in 'Frauenliebe und Leben' by Schumann (with orchestral arrangement by Conrad Artmüller) and in Mahler's Fourth, with the arrangement by Yoel Gamzou.
Another of the great proposals of this edition is the London Academy of The Fields Chamber Ensemble, a chamber formation of the prestigious British orchestra, which will perform on February 1 at the Teatro Víctor Fernández Gopar 'El Salinero', in Arrecife. The British formation will take a tour of the Baroque, Classicism and Romanticism, with works by Bach, Brahms and Mendelssohn.
The program in Lanzarote closes on the same stage on February 3, by Jakub Josef Orlinski, the mediatic Polish countertenor, considered one of the most influential artists of the current international scene, who visits the islands for the first time. He is accompanied by the baroque orchestra Il Pomo d'Oro, under the direction of Francesco Corti, which stands out for an authentic and dynamic interpretation of the operas and instrumental works of the baroque and classical period.
In Parallel
The In Parallel section of the 40th FIMC incorporates other outstanding proposals to this exquisite program. On Saturday, January 20, at El Salinero, will be the multidisciplinary show 'Océano', which brings together performers, composers and artists from the islands.
On Thursday 25, a new version of the acclaimed show 'Ángaro' by the company Pieles, with its fusion of tradition and avant-garde, will be staged at the Jameos del Agua; while on January 27, at the Teatro de San Bartolomé there will be a concert by the Cuban pianist based in the Canary Islands Othoniel Rodríguez.
For more information about the program and to get tickets, which are already available, you can consult the festival website.
