THE 11th edition of the El Greco Music Festival in Toledo This year it hosts three concerts as part of the Cathedral Organ Battles. This is one of the most important and memorable events in the city and mark the consolidation of a quality event which contributes to the promotion of musical heritage and consolidates the regional capital as a musical and cultural reference.
This year, fulfilling the objective of giving continuity to the activity generated in 2014, from the Greco Year, The festival will offer three concerts, on November 16, 23 and 30.as part of the Battle of the Organs, as the competition director explains, Juan Jose Monterowho indicated that the festival will bring together in November four expert organists who will discuss and challenge each other in interpretations and improvisations.
The mayor of Toledo, Carlos Velazquez stressed this Friday that the El Greco Music Festival and the Organ Battles “make us aware that Toledo is a unique city where cultural activities take place that could not be celebrated anywhere else.
This was expressed by the mayor of the city during the presentation of the 11th edition of the El Greco Music Festival and the 25th edition of the Battle of the Organs in the Chapter Hall of the City Hall, where the vice-president of the Provincial Council, Soledad de Fruits; the Deputy Minister of Culture, Carmen Teresa Olmedo; the canon of the cathedral, José Luis Fernández-Marcote; the vice-president of the Royal Foundation of Toledo, Jesús Carrobles and the artistic director of the Festival, Juan José Montero.
Carlos Velázquez recalled that at the cultural level, many activities take place throughout Spain, as well as in Toledo, but that these organ fights “could not take place anywhere else, because nowhere else is the Primatial Cathedral of Toledoand nowhere else there are the organs that he keeps inside“.
The mayor of Toledo recalled that this Music Festival, with its Organ Battles, “is the example that must guide us to achieve an important objective, which is to be European Capital of Culture in 2031, “This is something we have to work for and we will do everything in our power to achieve it,” the mayor added.
For her part, the Deputy Minister of Education and Culture, Carmen Teresa Olmedorecalled the contribution of 20,000 euros that the Council is making to the “Battle of the Organs”, through the Royal Foundation, at the same time as it sets the commitment to continue supporting a meeting which fits perfectly the cultural feeling of the city of Toledoclosely linked to its cathedral.
Likewise, Carmen Teresa Olmedo congratulated the organization for these eleven editions carried out and was proud to participate in the presentation of a meeting that she defined as “the confirmation of the importance of preserving the cultural heritage that has accompanied Toledo for centuries, in different political, economic and social situations.
Organ Battles
Regarding the concerts, Juan José Montero explained that the 11th edition of the festival is a high-level artistic proposal that serves as a preamble to the 800 years that the Cathedral of Toledo will celebrate in 2026. The first battle, which will take place in the transept of the cathedral, will be dedicated to the ‘Angels’, celestial beings that play a lot because they appear in some biblical texts, according to the festival director. Angels – recalled Montero – appear, for example, in the “Annunciation of the Virgin to Saint Gabriel.”
They will participate in this concert Pablo Marquez Caraballo, Atsuko Takano, Carlo Maria Barile and Juan José MonteroOn this occasion, you will be able to hear the music of the historic organs of the cathedral temple, which are seven in number like the Archangels.
Carlos Velázquez during the presentation of the El Greco Music Festival
The second concert will recall the Battle of Saladoin which the united troops of Castile and Portugal defeated the Benimerines. The banner of this battle is in the Cathedral of Toledo, according to the director of the festival. On this occasion, one can hear the recreation of this fight under one of the banners used in the battlepreserved in the Cathedral of Toledo in memory of the triumph. Baptiste-Florian Marle-Ouvrard, Rui Soares, Marc Pinardel and Juan José Montero will participate in the musical battle.
Finally, the last concert will be dedicated to King Davidrecognized as king and prophet of Judaism, Islam and ChristianityThe pipes from the cathedral’s organ will be used to recreate its fascinating history and the enormous influence it had on Judaism, on its path to the birth of Christ, as well as on so many European artists.
Tickets are now on sale on the website www.musicagreco.com and at the offices of the Royal Foundation of Toledo from Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Prices range from 20 to 40 euros and spectators wishing to attend the three organ battles will be able to purchase their tickets by subscription with a 25% discount.
