This Sunday, 20 July, Torrevieja will once again become the focal point of the global choral community as it welcomes the 71st International Habaneras and Polyphony Competition—an event recognised as of International Tourist Interest and awarded the Medal for Cultural Merit by the Generalitat Valenciana.
The grand opening gala, set to begin at 22:30 in the Municipal Theatre, will feature renditions of the official hymns of Torrevieja, Valencia, and Spain, performed by the Unión Musical Torrevejense alongside soloists Alberto Ballesta and Conchita Pérez Boj. Spanish singer Sole Giménez, best known for her work with Presuntos Implicados, will headline the evening, bringing her renowned vocal artistry to the prestigious stage.
Over the course of the event, nearly 700 performers, including singers and instrumentalists, will take part. Nine international choirs from Europe, the Americas and Asia will compete, each required to perform the set habanera ‘Torrevieja es así’, composed by Mario Bustillo with lyrics by Mari Paz Andréu. In addition, choirs will present two free-choice habaneras and two polyphonic pieces to showcase their full vocal range and technique.
The jury for this edition includes esteemed figures from the world of choral music: Bernadette Kühne, David Colado, Julia Foruria, Josep Vila, and Javier Corcuera. A total of €49,500 in prize money will be awarded across 11 categories, with the coveted “Ricardo Lafuente” First Prize for Habaneras offering €12,000 and a commemorative trophy.
On Monday, 21 July, the spotlight will turn to Torrevieja’s own choral ensembles, with performances by the Maestro Ricardo Lafuente Choir and Orchestra, the José Hódar choral society, the Manuel Barberá choral group, the Orfeón de Torrevieja, the Maestro Casanovas choir and the Francisco Vallejos choir. Tuesday will feature a special gala led by the Sinfonía Choir from the Municipal Choral School, fresh from their prize-winning appearance at the Cork International Choral Festival, alongside a guest performance by the Madrid Male Voice Choir, celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The competition proper will run from Wednesday 23 to Friday 25 July, with the final evening on Saturday 26 dedicated to the closing gala and awards ceremony.
All seven nights will be professionally recorded for a special broadcast by Spanish National Television (TVE). In Spain, the programme will air on La2, with additional international broadcasts planned via TVE’s international channel for audiences in Europe, America, and Asia. The event will also stream live on the Patronato’s official website and will be covered locally by Televisión Torrevieja and À Punt, the regional broadcaster.
This year’s presenter will be Ana Belén Roy, a well-known journalist from TVE, who expressed personal excitement about the role, sharing her childhood memories of visiting Torrevieja. “It feels like life has come full circle,” she said. “Presenting this event is an honour I will always treasure.”
Complementing the main programme, the Patronato has organised additional concerts throughout the city, with open-air recitals in pedestrian areas near Calle Concepción, in La Mata, and at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, bringing the spirit of the festival to the wider public.
