Baroque Festival Strikes a Global Chord | Festival barroco hace eco global

By El Deber:

BAROQUE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Baroque music tunes up a new festival that invites audiences to experience something unforgettable

La música barroca afina un nuevo festival que convoca a sentir una experiencia inolvidable

APAC has organized the International Festival of American Renaissance and Baroque Music since 1996. It is held every two years with the aim of preserving and promoting the musical heritage written between the 17th and 18th centuries by European and Indigenous composers, discovered in the archives of the Jesuit Missions.

Chiquitania will once again host a unique festival. Baroque music will enhance the majesty of the Chiquitos missions with remarkable musical performances. The 15th International Festival of American Renaissance and Baroque Music “Misión de Chiquitos” is putting the final touches in place for its grand opening on April 17.

The Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Cultures, Folklore and Gastronomy (MTCFyG) launched the festival, which will take place from April 17 to 26. The event celebrates 30 years of establishing Santa Cruz and Chiquitania as the home of the largest baroque music movement in the world. In this edition, as in previous ones, Tarija will also be part of the festival.

The event is organized by the Pro Art and Culture Association (APAC). For the 15th edition, there will be participation from 16 countries across three continents: Bolivia, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Korea, and Japan.

Tourism Minister Cinthya Yañez highlighted that this gathering, which began three decades ago, has positioned Bolivia as the global epicenter for the performance of American baroque music, thanks to the invaluable archive preserved in Chiquitos and Moxos, a unique testament to mestizo baroque.

“What began as a heritage rescue effort has now become the most important musical gathering in the region, transforming each venue into a living auditorium where past and present meet,” the authority stated.

During the press conference held this Wednesday, April 8, the minister affirmed that the festival seeks to strengthen the link between culture, tourism, and the creative economy. As part of this effort, the Chiquitos Route—which connects the six heritage churches—will be promoted as a sustainable itinerary integrating community and culinary experiences, such as SaboreArte Chiquitos.

“When a Bolivian listens to these ancestral melodies and a foreign visitor is moved to tears inside a mission church, the objective of showing the world our cultural potential is fulfilled,” she said, inviting the public to visit these regions to experience baroque music and enjoy the beauty of these warm-climate territories.

Bolivia, cradle of baroque music

The International Festival of American Renaissance and Baroque Music has been organized by APAC since 1996 and is held every two years with the goal of preserving and promoting the musical heritage written between the 17th and 18th centuries by European and Indigenous composers, discovered in the archives of the Jesuit Missions.

In total, 132 concerts will be offered across 21 venues, both in the city of Santa Cruz and in the mission churches, declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, in towns such as San José de Chiquitos, Concepción, San Javier, San Miguel, Santa Ana, San Rafael, Ascensión de Guarayos, San Ignacio de Velasco, and Roboré, among others. Tarija joins the event—at San Francisco Church—restoring the national scope the festival had in 2016 when it reached Sucre.

Since 1996, the Pro Art and Culture Association (APAC) has developed and sustained this festival. What began as a dream to preserve more than 5,000 pages of sacred music discovered in the archives of the Jesuit Missions has now become the largest and most important baroque music event in Latin America, with Bolivia at its center.

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