- Open to the general public, these sessions are hosted by the renowned musicologist and commentator Ricardo Ducatenzeiler
- The eighth free talk in this sixteen-part series will take place this afternoon, just before the Frankfurt Radio Symphony plays in the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Auditorium
Fundación Cepsa has a long-standing collaboration with the Canary Islands International Music Festival (FIMC), organized by the local government through Canarias Cultura en Red. This year, 16 free introductory talks will once again be given before each major concert of the festival, fully funded by Fundación Cepsa.
These talks, held prior to the main performances of this 36th edition of the FIMC, are being given by the musicologist and commentator Ricardo Ducatenzeiler and aim to familiarize the audience with the major works being played at the Festival, as well as with their performers, to enhance the listening experience.
You don't need a ticket to the show to attend its introductory talk — the talks are open to everyone. This means that audiences can enjoy the talks for no greater reason than a desire to learn and get closer to the music.
Today, Friday, January 24, the eighth talk, which will be held in the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, will delve into the concert to be given by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony. On January 28 and 29 in Gran Canaria, and January 30 and 31 in Tenerife, talks will be given on the Danish National Symphony Orchestra's performances in both locations.
And in February, those looking to broaden their musical knowledge can attend the pre-concert talk before the Russian Chamber Philharmonic St. Petersburg's performance on February 4, at the Teatro Leal in La Laguna, or those on February 8 and 9, before the Orchestre de Paris plays in the Auditoriums of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Tenerife, respectively.
Half of the Festival's scheduled talks have already been given, including the pre-concert sessions for the inaugural concert of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and performances by the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony in Tenerife.
Thanks to Fundación Cepsa's involvement, last year's Festival saw some 802 people attending 18 introductory talks held on the islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura.
A wide-ranging collaboration
Yet the concerts' introductory talks, which are fully funded by Fundación Cepsa, are only one aspect of this foundation's collaboration with the FIMC. Indeed, this is present in every concert given by a major orchestra at this prestigious international classical music competition on dozens of stages across the eight islands.
This year, some highlights included Fundación Cepsa's involvement in the four concerts to be given by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra in the auditoriums of the Islands' two capitals, conducted by Juanjo Mena, and featuring solos by Mark Simpson (clarinet) and Jean Guihen Queyrás, on January 28 and 29 in Gran Canaria, and January 30 and 31 in Tenerife. It also supported Dúo Cassadó's tour, with performances in El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote in early January.
The goal of Fundación Cepsa's involvement with the FIMC is to help promote culture and create synergy between the Islands' cultural and tourist sectors by using this musical festival—the only one held in the winter months—to put this archipelago on the cultural map of the world.
