The Cabildo of Lanzarote commemorated this Thursday, May 29, the Canary Islands Day with an emotional institutional act held at the Teatro Víctor Fernández Gopar “El Salinero”, which included the premiere of the show Tres timples, tres mundos, starring three of the island's most renowned timple players: Toñín Corujo, José Vicente Pérez and Alexis Lemes.
During his speech, the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, highlighted the importance of this date to value the history, culture and unique identity of the Canarian, Lanzarote and Graciosa people. “On Canary Islands Day, we proudly celebrate our identity. It is the date on which we merge into a single feeling to recognize our history, our culture and our unique and singular collective idiosyncrasy,” said the president, who stressed "the need to face the challenges of the present from unity and responsibility."
Betancort pointed out that “protecting our quality of life and our environmental, heritage and identity legacy is a unanimous feeling. It should already be an imperative, and not a wish or declaration of intentions.” He also highlighted the essential role of the Lanzarote model, which he described as “a way of life, a way of being in the world” based on sustainability and quality of life. “We do not want to grow in quantity, but in quality. We are committed to tourism that values our uniqueness, respects our landscape and is involved with our people,” he said.
The president defended that “the Lanzarote model is not the property of any party or any sector. It is the property of all the people of Lanzarote and Graciosa. An economic, social and environmental model that combines the generation of sufficient resources for our families to live with dignity and security, with the preservation of our unique natural environment, a solid network of access to basic goods and public services and the defense of our identity.”
A model”, added Oswaldo Betancort, “that unites public officials of any political persuasion, businessmen and workers, entrepreneurs, members of the third sector, artists, professionals, farmers, fishermen, elders, young people, Canarians by birth and adoption. Because we are all called to be part of this collective commitment.”
In the course of his speech, the president stated that “Lanzarote cannot wait. We must all be in the world to ensure the happiness of people. That is my deepest conviction: that those who were born here or have made this land their home have a dignified and happy life.”
A musical journey through the Canarian identity
After the president's words, the act continued with the show Tres timples, tres mundos, a multidisciplinary scenic proposal that combined live music, dance, voice and image in a staging full of cultural symbolism.
The Minister of Culture, Jesús Machín Tavío, stressed that “celebrating Canary Islands Day from art, music and collective creation allows us to connect with what we are as a people. This show values our musicians, our most emblematic instrument and the talent of an island that looks to the future from its roots.”
In addition to the three leading timple players, the stage brought together an outstanding cast of local artists: Ciro Corujo and Guacimara Montelongo on vocals; Tatiana Niz and Ayoze Ubay Medina in dance; Mario Engler, Juan Marcos Depetris and Miguel Ángel Valariño as a string trio; Israel Curbelo on piano; Carlos Pérez on winds; Sergey Saprychev on percussion; Néstor Castro on effects; Tony Cantero as audiovisual creator; and the musicians Manuel Adrián Niz, Fofi Lusson and Chalo.
The program included original pieces, reinterpretations of traditional folklore, audiovisual projections and a festive closing with batucada, in homage to the rhythm and energy of the islands.
The institutional act of Canary Islands Day in Lanzarote became a living celebration committed to the present and future of a land that continues to build its identity from diversity, roots and island pride.
