Torrevieja is set to reclaim its status as the global focal point for choral music this July as it hosts the 72nd International Habaneras and Polyphony Contest. Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, the prestigious event will take place from 19th to 25th July at the Municipal Theatre.
Across seven intense days, more than 700 choral singers from 13 countries spanning four continents will gather in Torrevieja. This established event stands as one of the oldest and most respected choral competitions in the world, once again cementing the municipality’s reputation as the true world capital of the habanera.
The details of the event were presented by the Mayor of Torrevieja and President of the Habaneras Board, Eduardo Dolón, alongside the Councillor for Culture, Antonio Quesada. The festival will kick off on Sunday 19th July with a spectacular inaugural gala. During this opening night, the Unión Musical Torrevejense and the Coro Sinfonía from the Municipal Choral School will perform the official anthems, paving the way for a headline performance by the acclaimed soprano Ainhoa Arteta, one of the leading voices in international opera.
Local choirs will take centre stage on Monday 20th July for one of the week’s most highly anticipated nights. The evening dedicated entirely to local Torrevieja groups will feature performances from the Coro and Orquesta Maestro Ricardo Lafuente, Masa Coral José Hódar, Agrupación Coral Manuel Barberá, Orfeón de Torrevieja, Coro Maestro Casanovas, and the Coral Torrevejense Francisco Vallejos. The compulsory piece for this year’s competition will be “Habanera de Sal”, composed by Antoni Mas and Belén Puente.
The main competition runs over four subsequent nights, bringing together 15 choral groups from 13 different countries representing Europe, America, and Asia in a grand display of cultural diversity and musical excellence.
The first competitive evening on Tuesday 21st July will feature the Riga Technical University Mixed Choir “Vivere” from Latvia, the Anchorus Polyphonic Choir from Turkey, the Sortilegio Vocal Ensamble from Chile, and the Beijing Wuzi Riparian Choir from China.
On Wednesday 22nd July, the second session will showcase the “Portland Phoenix” Chamber Choir from the United States, the Chamber Choir of the Universidad de las Américas from Mexico, the Mixed Choir “Viva” from Slovenia, and the Administratio Choir from Indonesia.
The third night on Thursday 23rd July will see performances by the Coro de Cámara de Mérida from Venezuela, the State Capella Choir of Ukraine “Trembita” from Ukraine, the “Sinfonía por el Perú” Youth Choir from Peru, and the Chamber Choir of the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires from Argentina.
The competitive phase concludes on Friday 24th July with the three selected Spanish groups taking the stage: the “Ainur” Chamber Choir from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), the “Encanto” Choir from Griñón (Community of Madrid), and the “Aurum” Choir from Luanco (Asturias).
The grand closing gala and award ceremony will take place on Saturday 25th July, featuring a showcase performance by the winning choirs. The well-known tenor and musical communicator José Manuel Zapata will host all the galas throughout the week, while the judging panel will consist of distinguished music professionals Antoni Mas, Cristóbal Soler, Pietro Ferrairo, Ruth Revert, and Selena Cancino.
Beyond the official theatre sessions, Torrevieja will immerse itself in music through an extensive cultural programme. This includes live choral performances in the pedestrianised streets of the historic town centre, concerts in various urban spaces, and the 13th International Conference on the Habanera and Choral Singing.
As a prelude to the main event, Playa del Cura will host a major open-air habaneras evening on Friday 4th July, featuring the UAnima Choir and La Trova del Llano. Additionally, members of the public can watch the main festival galas broadcast live on a giant screen installed on the Paseo Vista Alegre, as well as via Televisión de Torrevieja, Televisión Española, and À Punt, ensuring thousands of spectators can enjoy one of the most significant cultural highlights of the Spanish summer.
