FIMC Presents 'Canarii' Concert Version by Olga Cerpa & Mestisay

The 42nd International Music Festival of the Canary Islands (FIMC) is presenting a special concert this week as part of its #EnParalelo series. It's a concert version of 'Canarii' by Olga Cerpa and Mestisay, which explores the unique identity of the Canary Islands. The performance will feature the Vanya Moneva Choir from Bulgaria, alongside the Canary Islands musicians who were part of the original ballet premiere two years ago.

You can catch this new show on Wednesday at the Teatro Guiniguada in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and on Thursday at the Teatro Leal in La Laguna, Tenerife. Both performances start at 7:30 PM. Tickets are available on the festival's website or through the respective theatre's ticket platforms.

'Canarii' was first conceived as an audiovisual and contemporary ballet, directed by Manuel González (founder of Mestisay) and Daniel Abreu, a National Dance Award winner in 2014. The FIMC audience can now experience it as a concert, highlighting its powerful music. The score itself was developed over three months in a creative workshop between Madrid and the Canary Islands.

Details about the new show were shared this Tuesday at an event. Attendees included Olga Cerpa, Manuel González, Teddy Bautista, timple player Hirahi Afonso, and Vanya Moneva, director of the Bulgarian choir. Cristóbal de la Rosa, the Director General of Cultural Innovation and Creative Industries for the regional government, which organizes the festival, was also present.

'Canarii' invites the audience on a sensory journey. Manuel González explains that it creates a central 'spiritual and poetic space,' drawing an image of the Canary Islands by exploring its past and connecting it to the present. This unique production is structured into eight sections or movements that weave together the musical story: sea, ravine, badlands, trade wind, calima (a dusty wind), spiral, city, and 'bailadero' (a traditional dance ground).

The music and soundscapes draw from the rich traditions of the islands, blended with new original compositions. The show also features the musical excellence of Teddy Bautista and the talent of young Canary Islands timple player Hirahi Afonso. Together, they build a sonic narrative using musical symbols that explore the diverse identity of the Canary Islands. On stage, singer Olga Cerpa, Teddy Bautista, and the acclaimed Vanya Moneva Bulgarian choir will unite their talents. The choir previously recorded their contributions for the soundtrack that accompanied the production's premiere at the Teatro Cuyás in 2024.

The FIMC is also highlighting young talent, featuring Gran Canarian pianist Gabriel Ducatenzeiler Kapp. The winner of the 2024 María Orán Award, he is embarking on a 'cinema tour' this week with concerts in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and El Hierro.

Titled 'The Piano Tells: Stories of Cinema and Music,' his tour explores the connection between classical music and film. The program includes major piano works by Bach, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Liszt, and Chopin, as well as a piece by Canary Islands composer Laura Vega.

The tour kicks off this Friday at the Convento de Santo Domingo in Teguise, Lanzarote. It continues on Saturday at the Auditorio de Antigua in Fuerteventura, and concludes on Sunday at the Auditorio de La Peña in El Hierro. All performances start at 8:00 PM. Tickets are available at www.festivaldecanarias.com and through the usual platforms for these venues.