Noche de Habaneras

THE beach at Torrevieja’s Playa del Cura was awash on Friday night, not with seawater but with people as more than 8,000 spectators brought their deckchairs, picnics and drinks and settled down to enjoy music from the 19th Noche de Habaneras en la Playa del Cura.

On stage, five local torrevejenses groups entertained the audience with a selection of the most popular of Habaneras songs, concluded by a superb firework display to end a wonderful evening on the beach.

Noche de Habaneras featured Coro Infantil de la Coral Francisco Vallejos, choral groups from Coral Manuel Barberá and Masa José Hódar, the ‘Cecilio Gallego’ choir and the Asociación Amas de Casa plus Brea y Sal.

This unique event is a taster of and preparation for the 57th Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonía, which is celebrated from this Saturday, at the beautiful, traditional setting of Eras de la Sal.

Habaneras on the Beach has steadily grown in stature year by year and even in this time of crisis, this year featured more than 50,000 different lights, 120 audio speakers, live TV Broadcast and projection of the event onto a giant screen.

Musically, especially significant was the interpretation of the popular habanera “La Bella Lola” from Brea y Sal, which brought a tear to many an eye. The vice-president of the Patronato and Torrevieja’s Councillor for Culture Luis María Pizana, was delighted by both the performance and the terrific turnout saying that the event was “full of the flavour of torrevejense” and hoped that it was an indicator of a superb Habaneras competition which starts this week.

By Keith Nicol