The Coral del Camino from Burgos won the first prize of the jury of the Arnotegui Medieval and Renaissance Choral Competition, organized by the Fundación Misterio de Obanos. The musical event immersed the town in the Middle Ages with the participation of the early music group Maladanza.
The town of Obanos was immersed this Saturday in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages with the celebration of the sixth edition of the National Contest of Medieval and Renaissance Choral Music Arnotegui organized by the Misterio de Obanos Foundation. The contest, held in the church of San Juan, adopted this year the name of Memorial Juan Manuel Rubio, in homage to its main promoter, who died suddenly last year. The event brought together three choral groups of outstanding interpretative level, evaluated by a jury composed of Jorge Apodaca Aisa, Pau de Luis Alba and the Navarrese Iñigo Casalí Sarasíbar, musicians of national prestige.
The Coral del Camino de Burgos, first prize from the jury
The Coral del Camino won the first prize of 1,500 euros and a commemorative sculpture. The second prize of 1,000 euros went to the Segovian group La Espadaña, while the choir Capella Gramalla, from Barcelona, won third place with 700 euros. In addition, José Rubén Cid, director of La Espadaña, was awarded the diploma for best director by the jury. The public attending the contest also had the opportunity to choose their favorite interpretation, the choice falling on the choir La Espadaña, which received 200 euros from the popular vote by two representatives of the local youth association Arcondoa.
The director of the Burgos choir, Emilio González, collecting the first prize.
During the jury’s deliberation, the early music group Maladanza offered a delicate repertoire inspired by the three cultures -Christian, Jewish and Muslim- that coexisted in the Peninsula during the Middle Ages.
The Coral La Espadaña won the popular prize and its director was awarded by the jury.
Regardless of the results, and as highlighted by the people in charge of conducting the musical event, Sandra Santesteban and Eduardo Ventura, the main winner was the audience, who enjoyed an evening of great musical and symbolic richness.
Participants and organizers of the contest, in the family photo.
Performance by the choir Capella Gramalla (Barcelona)
Images of the contest provided by Oriol Conesa
Tribute to Juan Manuel Rubio
The Misterio de Obanos Foundation wanted to pay an emotional tribute to Juan Manuel Rubio, alma mater of the choral competition. Román Felones, member of the Foundation representing the artistic and cultural field of Navarre, was in charge of drawing a portrait of the former president of the entity. Felones highlighted Rubio’s “commitment, leadership and closeness”, and recalled his tireless work to revitalize the theatrical representation of the Mystery. At the same time, he bet to continue working on the linking of the play with the Jacobean world and in its rooting with the whole region and wished to join wills to start it up again.
For his part, the new president of the Foundation, Mikel Pagola, paid tribute to his predecessor by handing over the first prize to Rubio’s relatives -his brother Álvaro and his aunt Mari Carmen Guembe-. In his speech, Pagola announced the upcoming holding of a popular consultation to find out the opinion of the neighborhood on the future of the theatrical performance. “We want to test the sensitivity of the people and carefully study all the pros and cons,” he said. The consultation is scheduled to take place during the summer.