A BUSY JULY IN TORREVIEJA

Culture

Contributor / 2012-07-01 17:30:42

Torrevieja’s major music festival starts on Monday July 23 with the opening of the 58 Edition of International Polifonia and Habaneras Competition.

Torrevieja’s Summer Cultural program is due to be announced this week. Meanwhile, there are a few events that you might like to add to your diary for July. Starting on Friday July 6, Night Our Promotions present the 25 Anniversary of comedian and Drag Artist Stevie Spitt, who will be joined in the Teatro Municipal by Eddie Wallace, María O’Hara, Jay Markwick’s Compañía de Flamenco and guest artists. Prices are €15, €25 and €35.

Torrevieja Open Saturdays occurs on July 7 and 21 from 5.00pm until 9.00pm. This week’s fun attraction must be Street Cricket. Don’t ask me how it works, just get yourself downtown on Saturday and find out for yourself. Remember that all day parking from 10.00am until 10.00pm is available in El Arco, Marina Salinas, Virgen del Carmen and Marina Internacional for just €1.00. This Saturday also allows you to enter a world of magic and learn to play the famous card game "Magic the Gathering", plus all children are invited to a paint shop, have fun mixing colours, painting murals and doing what you want.

The Rio Safari Park will be there with their petting Zoo, the group Synthesis will be playing music, there is a bodybuilding demonstration of exercises and bodybuilding poses, with Julio Freixa, Champion of Spain 2009, your chance to taste offering from Orihuela including jams, pies and olive oil, massage, a Home Gardeners Workshop and lots more. And did I mention, the shops are also open for shopping!

On Moday July 9 legendary trio Los Panchos are in concert in the Teatro Municipal performing ‘La Magia del Bolero’ at 9.30pm with tickets costing €25 while the tradition of Habaneras is celebrated in one of Torrevieja’s most fun events, the twentieth edition of Habaneras on the Beach. The event is free and attracts thousands of spectators who are treated to an evening of the most popular Habaneras songs. Bring your deck chair, your blankets, your picnic basket and enjoy the spectacle. All takes place at Playa del Cura starting at 10.30pm.

Saturday July 14, music of a very different kind is on offer at the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Centre at 10.00pm. Jazz-Rock group Andromeda are on stage playing their special blend of music, and entrance is also free. At noon the next day, one of the UK’s top school Big Bands make a welcome return to Torrevieja, with a free performance in the Parque Doña Sinforosa.

Starting on Monday July 15, the Mediterranean Synchronised Swimming Championships take place in the Infanta Cristina Sports Place. The fantastic Helson School Jazz Orchestra perform in the Teatro Municipal at 8.30pm with tickets priced at only €3.00. They are also performing in La Mata on Thursday at 10.00pm. On Friday July 20 there is a very special performance by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Torrevieja celebrating a unique style of Spanish music the Zarzuela. The show starts at 10.00pm in the Teatro Municipal with tickets priced at €10 and €15.

There is a quick change of bands in the Teatro Municipal as at 9.00pm on July 21, there is a ‘Concierto Extraordinario’, featuring the Alicante Youth Orchestra under the direction of Francisco Maestre. The evening will feature classical pieces from Mozart, Bizet, Korsakov and others. Tickets are €10.00. And for a complete change of scene, you may wish to head over to Disco Oz, because at midnight there is a special disco featuring ‘Imparable’. Two more musical performances for you on Sunday July 22 with the Benefit Gala for the Cofradía del Cristo de la Flagelación in the Virgen del Carmen at 8.30pm with over in Teatro Municipal at 9.00pm there is the V Aniversario del Orfeon Municipal Ricardo Lafuente, organized by the Patronato Municipal de Habaneras.

Torrevieja’s major music festival starts on Monday July 23 with the opening of the 58 Edition of International Polifonia and Habaneras Competition. This week long competition features choirs from all five continents, along with local performances from Torrevieja choirs, outside of the competition. The event takes place in the historic and iconic Eras de la Sal with performances starting each evening at 11.00pm. Another choir, this time from Wales will bring the month to a close on Tuesday July 31, when the ladies choir Cor Merched Persain perform in the Cultural Casino of Torrevieja at 9.00pm.

The quarterly Cultural program also consists of dozens of workshops, classes, parades, and exhibitions and more information about all of these events will be found in the new Cultural Program. Those who wish to look even further ahead and into August will find details of major artists such as Manuel Carrasco and Isobel Pantoja, the Electro Mar and International Big Band festival and host of other information. Apart from the beach and the pool and the occasional frosty libation, plenty to keep you occupied during the summer in Torrevieja.