Habaneras

The name of Torrevieja is inextricably associated with its International Habaneras and Polyphonic Competition which takes place towards the end of July in the area of the Eras de la Sal, the cathedral of the Habaneras.

A multitude of choirs from all five continents have passed through this unique historical venue, singing their homage in Spanish to the Habaneras song. From the Eras de la Sal area the early Torrevejenses set sail to Cuba with their cargo of white treasure, returning with the rhythm and sound of the habaneras on their lips.

That seed fell on fertile soil and took root it such an extent that nowadays we cannot imagine Torrevieja without the habanera. The fruit of all this is the International Habaneras and Polyphonic Competition, the most important event in the calendar of Torrevieja.

In recent years there have been choirs of a wide variety of cultures, styles and origins. Who can forget the Choir of the Polytechnic University of Beijing, China? Who would have imagined that the Eras de la Sal would see a choir from India performing "Habanera Salada" by the maestro Lafuente? Who could have foreseen that Russia should win a first prize in Habaneras y Polyphonia in the last competition? And likewise, countries such as Cuba, Portugal, Uruguay, Poland, Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy, Argentina, Hungary, South Africa, Turkey, Belgium, The United States, Ukraine, Lithuania, Colombia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, Ireland, Latvia, Ecuador, Island - have sung in the temple of the Habanera, and in Spanish.

HABANERA 'TORREVIEJA'

Author: Ricardo Lafuente Aguado

Es Torrevieja un espejo
donde Cuba se mira
y al verse suspira
y se siente feliz.
Es donde se habla de amores
entre bellas canciones
que traen de Cuba
su alma y sentir.

Entre las olas tatuadas
vienen las habaneras
que son de La Habana
mensaje de amor.

Llegan con suaves caricias
a la vez que la brisa
besan la playa
con una canción.

¡Ay, Torrevieja divina!
¡Ay!, con tu cielo sin par,
eres embrujo,
canto de amores,
plácido sueño
para el que busca
soñar...
junto al mar.

¡Ay, Torrevieja divina!
¡Ay!, con tu cielo sin par,
eres embrujo,
canto de amores,
plácido sueño
para el que busca
soñar...
junto al mar.

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