Last Saturday, October 28th, a tribute concert to Peace and on democratic foundations was held on the 50th anniversary of the coup in Chile. The concert, organized by the Conservatorio Liceo Foundation, El Certamen Llobet and the Embassy of Chile in Spain, wanted to be a tribute to the history of Chile, and also a reflection on the importance of democracy and human rights around the world. Music, as a universal language, reminds us of the need to unite in the defense of these fundamental values and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Latin America.
The central theme of the concert was the European premiere of the work “Sinfonía Democrática” by the outstanding Chilean composer Nino García. The work was performed by the Chilean guitarist Romilio Orellana and the students of the Liceu Conservatory, Israel Román Solis, oboe, Lucía Ferrer, baritone saxophone, Víctor Diaz, piano, Jorge Bosch, percussion, Claudio Andrés Ordoñez, violin, Marina Prat, viola and Diego Enrique Achahuanco, double bass, under the direction of Carla Obach. This composition is not only a musical piece, but a living testimony that narrates the history of Chile musically from the years before the military coup to the social processes that followed. Each movement of the symphony is a chapter in the history of the struggle for democracy and human rights in Chile. “Sinfonía Democrática” not only celebrates the memory of iconic figures such as Violeta Parra and Víctor Jara, but also pays tribute to committed musicians such as Jorge Peña Henn, founder of youth orchestras in Chile and victim of human rights violations. The “Prayer” movement of the work is dedicated to his memory, highlighting his legacy in music and education.
Prior to the expected premiere of “Sinfonía Democrática,” Romilio Orellana captivated the audience with his interpretation of varied works by illustrious Chilean and South American musicians, such as Violeta Parra, Víctor Jara or Agustín Barrios, among others. And prior to this performance Víctor Estapé, academic director of the Liceu Conservatory, welcomed the audience that filled the Auditori, and Verónica Davalos, president of the Salvador Allende Center of Barcelona, explained the meaning of the special concert we were celebrating.
The concert was organized by the Salvador Allende Center, Iberamerik Concert, the Certamen Llobet, the Embassy of Chile in Spain and the Liceu Conservatory Foundation and is part of the Collaboration Program with Ibero-America, initiated in 2001. As part of this program, the Conservatorio Liceu Foundation develops academic and artistic activities in nine countries of the region (Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Brazil) through institutional collaboration agreements.