The César Manrique Foundation (FCM), in collaboration with the Arrecife City Council, has organized an International Musical Meeting of Verse Speakers that will be held this Saturday, June 15, at 9:00 p.m., in El Almacén square, under the title 'Verses for César Manrique'. This activity is part of the centenary of the artist's birth that the Foundation that bears his name is carrying out until April 24, 2020.
Artists from six American countries, and the Canary Islands hosts, will come together in this International Meeting to remember César Manrique with their verses - improvised and recreated - as well as to claim "the validity and necessity, now more than ever, of his artistic and vital message."
The payadores Marta Suint from Argentina and José Curbelo from Uruguay, grandson of a conejero from San Bartolomé, will participate in the Meeting. According to the FCM, Suint and Curbelo are "two essential names in the Rio de la Plata tradition of the milonga in tenths and the gaucho tradition." The Cuban Alexis Díaz Pimienta will also take the stage, "an outstanding repentista, writer and theorist, one of the most authoritative voices in the field of improvisational tradition in the world."
Guillermo and Vincent Velázquez, Chabe Flores and the Gorrión Serrano trio will arrive from Mexico, representatives of the Arribeña and Huasteca traditions of the center of the country. According to the FCM, Guillermo is "one of the most reputable minstrels in America" and the violinist of Gorrión Serrano, Alex Montaño, is, despite his youth, "a talented and experienced performer."
Verse speakers from Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Canary Islands
Omar Santiago, Roberto Silva, Christian Nieves and Modesto Nieves will be on the stage located in El Almacén square representing Puerto Rico. The first two national troubadours have been honored in countless contests, and the Nieves, father and son, are "virtuous performers of typical Puerto Rican music," they highlight from the FCM.
Venezuela is another of the Latin American countries that will participate in the Meeting with the "unique" Cecilia Todd, one of the great voices of America, and Gustavo Colina, a renowned cuatrista.
The Canarian representation will be in the hands of the outstanding percussionist from La Palma, Fernando García, who will support the Puerto Rican and Venezuelan formations, and the verse speaker from Gran Canaria, Yeray Rodríguez, the creator of this meeting.
