Morella hosts from today, July 17th, to July 23rd, the fifteenth edition of the Early Music Morella festival, themed Virtus this year. The event will feature a total of 14 concerts and numerous cultural activities across various heritage sites in the city.
The official inauguration of the course and festival will take place at the Municipal Theatre at 5:30 PM, with the presence of Bernabé Sangüesa, Mayor of Morella; Ruth Martínez, Councillor for Culture; and Carles Magraner, artistic director of the festival.
The first musical performance will be by Jorge García Martín, presenting the program Facultad Orgánica at the Arciprestal de Santa María at 7:30 PM. The recital, with free admission, will highlight the organ as a vehicle for personal expression and technical virtuosity, using the Turull organ (1724), considered the most important in the Valencian Community.
In the evening, at 10:30 PM, Capella de Ministrers, led by Carles Magraner, will offer a candlelit concert at the Convent de Sant Francesc. Titled El Conqueridor, the Valencian ensemble, with 39 years of experience, will pay tribute to King James I on the 750th anniversary of his death, performing troubadour repertoire, sacred music, and Andalusian music.
The festival will continue with events such as El Bureo, a traditional music and dance gathering at Plaça Colón on the 18th, and El Convit, a madrigal comedy by Adriano Banchieri, performed by the Acadèmia CdM at the Convent de Sant Francesc.
Other notable performances include El viaje de Abendino with Al Tayr Ensemble at the Municipal Theatre, Ecos del Siglo de Oro with Beatriz Lafont and Eduardo Egüez at the Iglesia de San Juan, and the concert Santa María: espejo de virtud by the Ensemble Alfonsí.
The festival will also feature performances by the Taiwanese group The Gleam Ensemble, Calíope in an evening of poetry and music, A Vocal & Marco García de Paz, and the Ensemble Andalusí. The closing will include Bassa Capella and the traditional La dansa de la mort.
The festival holds the European quality seal EFFE (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe), recognizing its artistic quality and impact. Early Music Morella is a member of various national and international networks and is supported by institutions such as the Morella City Council, the Provincial Council of Castellón, and the Generalitat Valenciana.
