Please don’t stop the musical feasts

If you thought the music would stop after the Panama Jazz Festival comes to an end this weekend, think again. Stand aside Panama City, as performers take the party to the interior (outskirts of the capital) next weekend, under the cool climate of El Valle de Anton.

Only 2 hours away from Panama City through the Panamerican highway, El Valle has long been a favorite spot for nationals and foreigners alike. It is known as the place of eternal spring in Panama, and some writers have also found it to be a sanctuary for meditation.

600 meters above sea level, with fresh and pleasant weather, the valley is mostly known for its rocky mountains and ecotourism attractions such as its waterfalls and hot springs. Yet among its many attractions is a musical festival held inside a church.

This year the Musical Festival in El Valle will be held on Saturday January 31 at 8:00 p.m. at Iglesia San Jose. It is sponsored by La Asociacion del Festival Musical de El Valle and the National Institute of Culture (INAC). The National Symphony Orchestra, directed by Maestro Jorge Ledezma, and soloist Oxana Schevchenko (piano) from Russia are the star guests.

The concert is held in el Valle’s main church, in honor of San Jose. The excellent acoustics inside the church allows for excellent classical music concerts.

The program includes: Antonin Dvorak Symphony 9 (New World) Mi Menor by the Symphony Orchestra and Mozart’s Concierto 21 (K467), D Major by pianist Schevchenko. Tickets are available for $15 at Allegro, Joyeria Barakat, and the Centro Comercial El Valle. For more information, email festivaldelvalle@gmail.com or call 270-0922.

On February 1, a younger generation of Panamanian musicians will also be performing at El Valle’s church. Youth orchestras attending the National Association of Concerts’ (ANC in Spanish) musical youth camp will perform along with a choir. Every year, the ANC organizes the camp with internationally renowned faculty and the best and most dedicated young musicians in Panama.

The event will be held at 11:00 a.m. and entrance is free.

While you’re at it, don’t miss the crafts market on El Valle’s main road, where locals sell vegetables and other agricultural products, plants, flowers, baskets, the famous stone carvings, ceramics, wooden furniture, and orchids, including the national flower: Flor Nacional del Espiritu Santo.

OPERA: Speaking of starting the year on a musical note, tickets for Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot on February 12, the first opera of the year, are on sale in Blockbuster. The opera, which tells the story of a cold princess who tests all of her suitors with riddles, will be at Teatro Anayansi, ATLAPA.