The 72nd International Habanera and Polyphony Competition is progressing in Torrevieja, with Wednesday evening’s performance marking the halfway point of both the competition and the festival itself, according to the Municipal Board that organises this choral singing competition. The event featured performances by four choirs from three continents. All four choirs performed the required “Habanera de sal” by Belén Puente and Antoni Mas.
The first choir to take the stage at the Municipal Theatre was the Portland Phoenix Chamber Choir from the United States, followed by the Chamber Choir of the University of the Americas Puebla from Mexico, the Viva Mixed Choir from Brežice in Slovenia, and the Administration Choir from Malang in Indonesia. The jury, composed of Cristóbal Soler, Ruth Revert, Antoni Mas, and Selena Cancino, continued its evaluation in an edition that is meeting the expectations of the Board’s Technical-Musical Committee during the selection of the choirs.
That evening, the pageant’s host, José Manuel Zapata, spoke to the media, expressing his delight at the opportunity to lead this event, which he had known since childhood through broadcasts on Spanish Television. He praised the meticulous organisation by the Board of Trustees, emphasising the enthusiasm evident among all the staff involved.
Belén Puente, author of the lyrics for “Habanera de Sal,” the required piece for this year’s festival, also appeared. She noted the profound emotion that both she and Antoni Mas, the composer of the music, are experiencing with each performance, eagerly awaiting the moment when all the choirs will perform it together at the closing gala.
Thursday marks the third evening of the competition, with the Municipal Theatre hosting three Ibero-American choirs and one European choir, specifically from Ukraine. These include the Mérida Chamber Choir from Venezuela, the State Capella Choir of Ukraine “Trembita” from Lviv in Ukraine, the “Sinfonía por el Perú” Youth Choir from Lima in Peru, and the Chamber Choir of the National College of Buenos Aires from Argentina. Due to a red alert for strong gusty winds, the organisers have decided to remove the giant screen from the Vista Alegre promenade, where the competition has been broadcast in recent days, as well as the outdoor set in Miguel Hernández Square, next to the theatre. The parallel performances by the competing choirs in the city centre have also been suspended.
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