The Artists: Aoife Ní Bhriain and Catrin Finch
The Festival Internacional Cervantino in Guanajuato, Mexico, has once again proven its unique ability to orchestrate cultural convergence. This time, it brought together two exceptional talents from opposite sides of the Irish Sea: violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain from Dublin, Ireland, and harpist Catrin Finch from Cardiff, Wales.
Aoife Ní Bhriain: A Classical Fusion
Aoife Ní Bhriain, with her rigorous international classical training, has deeply rooted herself in Ireland’s rich and melancholic musical tradition. This fusion has created a powerful and personal language that resonates with audiences.
Catrin Finch: A Classical Explorer
Catrin Finch, recognized for her successful solo career and innovative projects, has dedicated part of her trajectory to exploring new sounds and dialogues through international collaborations. She has taken the emblematic Welsh harp to uncharted territories, expanding its possibilities.
The Venue: Templo del Señor Santiago Apóstol
The Templo del Señor Santiago Apóstol, a historical site in Guanajuato witness to centuries of history, transformed into an unparalleled stage for this cultural meeting. The concert hall buzzed with the sound of bees, executed with impeccable force by these two virtuoso women. The classical became contemporary in their hands, reminding the audience of the relevance and vibrancy of these artists today.
The Performance: A Symphony of Cultures
The concert celebrated traditional music and contemporary sounds in a perfect symbiosis. Pieces based on the figure of grandmothers were presented, evoking nostalgia, love, and tranquility. These universal feelings, explained by the artists, deepened the connection with the audience.
The music, brought from a distant country, resonated well with the audience on the other side of the world. Shared concerns and aspirations transcend latitudes. Aoife’s grandmother, depicted in her pieces, is described with the warmth and devotion anyone would use for their own.
There’s also a palpable concern for the planet, a message of reflection on human activities and species protection. The presence of bees wasn’t just in the sound but also in the consciousness, symbolizing a collection of emotions understood and felt without translation.
The Cervantino Mission: A Cultural Bridge
The Festival Internacional Cervantino (FIC), known as the “Fiesta del Espíritu,” is one of the most significant cultural meetings in Latin America and the world. Its mission is to be a plural, diverse, and inclusive meeting point, offering high-quality artistic programming to connect community art expressions with those of indigenous peoples and international companies.
This concert, where two artists from the Celtic nations successfully dialogue and touch the Mexican audience, perfectly exemplifies this mission. It creates a cultural bridge where music remains relevant and resonates with impressive force.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Festival Internacional Cervantino? The Festival Internacional Cervantino, or Cervantino for short, is a significant cultural meeting in Latin America and the world, known as the “Fiesta del Espíritu.” Its mission is to be a plural, diverse, and inclusive meeting point, offering high-quality artistic programming.
- Who are Aoife Ní Bhriain and Catrin Finch? Aoife Ní Bhriain is an Irish violinist with rigorous international classical training deeply rooted in Ireland’s musical tradition. Catrin Finch is a Welsh harpist recognized for her successful solo career and innovative projects, expanding the possibilities of the harp.
- What was unique about this concert? This concert celebrated traditional music and contemporary sounds in a perfect symbiosis. The universal feelings evoked by the music deepened the connection with the audience, transcending geographical distances.
