Díaz Yerro's "Oratorium" Premieres at Canary Islands Music Festival
Professor Gonzalo Díaz Yerro's new commissioned sacred work, "Oratorium," will premiere this week at the International Music Festival of the Canary Islands, performed by the Inegale Orchestra and Súbito Koral in Las Palmas and La Laguna.
Sacred music is making a comeback at the International Music Festival of the Canary Islands. This year, it features a new piece from the 21st century, specially commissioned by the festival. The composer is Gonzalo Díaz Yerro, who is a Professor of Composition at the Canary Islands Superior Conservatory of Music.
His new work, "Oratorium," will premiere this week. It will be performed in two churches on the main islands by the Inegale Orchestra and the Súbito Koral choir, with the composer himself conducting. Entry is free, but you need to book your tickets in advance through the festival's website.
The concerts are scheduled for this Thursday at the Church of San Agustín in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and on Saturday at the Cathedral of La Laguna. Both performances start at 8:30 PM. Tickets for the La Laguna concert can be reserved on the festival's website, www.festivaldecanarias.com, until they run out. Tickets for the Gran Canaria event have already sold out.
Gonzalo Díaz Yerro is a well-known composer with a long career. He has written music for operas, ballets, and symphonies, which have been performed both nationally and internationally. He has also composed for film and television. The International Music Festival of the Canary Islands (FIMC) specifically asked him to create one of two new works for this year's festival, which he titled "Oratorium."
The "Oratorium" has eight movements, which, as Díaz Yerro explains, "logically connects to the number of islands in the Canary Islands." The texts used in the piece come from various sources, including parts of the Bible like the Song of Songs and a psalm, as well as a long poem by Cesarina Bento, a poet from La Gomera. Through this work, the composer aims to offer a space for reflection and peace, where people can pray or meditate. He hopes it will help listeners "step away a little from the noise and speed of our world, allowing us to focus on ourselves and the essence of things."
Díaz Yerro himself will conduct the performance. The Inegale Orchestra, based in Gran Canaria, brings together both new, talented musicians and experienced professionals. They will be joined by Súbito Koral, a choir known for its diverse and adaptable style, directed by Víctor Ramírez.
The Inegale Orchestra recently performed Díaz Yerro's first opera, "Negrín," which premiered last November at the Pérez Galdós Theater. This group consists of young musicians who have transitioned into professional careers after being part of the Inegale Cultural Association, performing alongside seasoned artists.
Súbito Koral, with its 60 voices, will accompany them. This choir has been performing for over ten years and has become known for having one of the most varied and versatile repertoires among all choirs in the Canary Islands.