 |
|
|
 Vallarta Living | Art Talk | July 2005 
Fest to Observe 400 Years of 'Don Quijote'
 Juan Solís - El Universal
The 33rd annual International Cervantes Festival marking the 400th anniversary of "Don Quijote" will debut on October 5 in the city of Guanajuato with a program of international artists including composer Phillip Glass and the National Spanish Orchestra.
The event, regarded as one of the most important cultural festival in the Americas, has been held each year since 1972 in Guanajuato. Featuring plays, as well as music and dance, the program this year includes more than 100 performances.
Initially the festival focused on artistic creations in Spanish in honor of author Miguel de Cervantes. Yet over time, it has developed into a wide showcase on an international scale of artistic and cultural expressions.
This years's invited guests are Spain and Japan, as well as the state of Yucatan. Among the participating artists are: director Krzysztof Penderecki, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Zagreb, the National Orchestra of Spain, the Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir and the Yucatan Contemporary Dance Company.
The festival's budget this year totaled 60 million pesos (US5.6 million) of which 13 million pesos (US1.2 million) came from sponsors such as Telmex, Pemex, IMSS, Mexicana Airlines and the Televisa Foundation. It marks the largest contribution from the private sector in the history of the festival.
The National Council for Culture and the Arts supplied 32 million pesos (US2.9 million), while the state of Guanajuato contributed another 15 million pesos (US1.4 million).
While the festival typically boosts the state's economy by millions of dollars every year, the festival is more than just a profitable investment, said director Ramiro Osorio.
"The festival contributes to the education of so many spectators," he said, and "allows contact between national and foreign artists."
The festival runs from Wednesday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Oct. 23. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us