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Travel Review: Cervantino Festival 2003
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31st Festival Internacional Cervantino For more than thirty years the Cervantino Festival has been enthralling visitors across the globe. Set in Guanajuato, one of Mexico's most beautifully preserved colonial cities, the festival is a melting pot of culture and artistic celebration.
Despite recent years, where hordes of Chilango (people who live in Mexico City) teenagers have invaded the sleepy village in some rude testament to Spring Break a la Mexicana, the festival has weathered such unwanted intrusions and goes from strength to strength. This year sees more than 2,000 artists from 37 countries performing over the 2-week period. Highlights include the homegrown talent of opera tenor Ramon Vargas dueting with the Chilean soprano Veronica Villarroel in a tribute to Guanajauto's Juarez Theater - a titanic symbol of Mexican patrimony and cultural expression. Of the numerous countries represented at the festival, France and Germany stand out for their significant contribution in terms of artists and performers akin to their strong immigrant ties to Mexico. In particular is the graphic opera "Conquest of Mexico" which delves into the volatile theme of how a nation was borne out of rape and pillage. Cervantino has always championed the art of fusion. The festival allows artists not only to show off their own talents, but to take the opportunity of performing with their peers (usually for the first and last time). One unique collaboration is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra being conducted by Mexican-born Enrique Batiz. Many other artists are also teaming up with their Mexican counterparts to present something truly original in this annual salute to the world arts. The Cervantino Festival runs from Oct. 15 to Nov. 2, 2003. Click to see the calendar. Return to top |
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