Menu
The last week of July is traditionally the time when choirs from all corners of the world gather in Torrevieja. Since 1955, the International Habaneras and Polyphony competition has been held. This event lasts seven evenings and has grown over the years into a prestigious festival that is highly regarded worldwide. The visitor numbers confirm this. Recent editions of the Habaneras attracted more than 100,000 choir music enthusiasts and more than a thousand musicians. In 2024, the festival runs from July 20 to July 26.
The idea behind the festival relates to habanera music, which was hugely popular in Cuba in the 18th and 19th centuries. Sailors from Torrevieja regularly brought ships full of salt to the Cuban capital, Havana, at that time. They returned mainly with sugar and tobacco. The meeting of these two cultures led to the introduction of this vocal form in Spain and a rapidly growing popularity.
Habanera music is a genre of rather slow music with an emphasis on polyphonic harmonies. One of the festival's organizers once aptly described habanera songs as ‘a sea breeze that caresses’. So, do not expect energetic Latin rhythms, but an average of 60 beats per minute. Think of a well-known song like ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. In terms of lyrics, everything revolves around romantic themes such as nostalgia, longing for loved ones, passion, and love for Cuban life at sea, coffee plantations, and sunsets.
The competition of a cappella choirs (both amateur and professional), soloists, and symphony orchestras that perform with choirs is of very high quality. Participants come from many countries with a long seafaring tradition, but for example, Danish, Russian, Bulgarian, and Indian groups have also performed in Torrevieja over the years. What makes this international gathering particularly special is that all choirs sing in Spanish.
While in previous years performances were also held in outdoor locations, all acts are now performed in the Municipal Theater. However, to allow as many people as possible to enjoy the acts, for the third consecutive year, the performances can be watched for free on a large screen on the Vista Alegre boulevard. Tickets are available for the various evenings, or at a reduced price for all seven nights.
Recordings of performances can be followed on various radio and TV stations after the competition. The fact that Cuban music, which crossed the ocean centuries ago, has made such an impression in Spain is also evident from the fact that coastal towns such as Santa Pola, Villajoyosa, Cartagena, and Denia regularly organize festivities around habanera music as well.
