From July 17 to 25, 2026, the municipality of Vélez Blanco (Almería) will once again become the epicenter of early music as it celebrates the 25th edition of its prestigious festival. Under the theme Celebrations, this year's edition explores the vital role music played as a ritual, political, and social cornerstone during the Early Modern period.
The Festival de Música Renacentista y Barroca de Vélez Blanco has established itself as a unique landmark on the European musical map. It stands out for its exceptional ability to bring high culture into rural areas, driving social, economic, and cultural revitalization across the territory. Alongside its meticulous selection of Renaissance and Baroque music, the festival embraces contemporary priorities such as the recovery of Spain's musical heritage, gender perspective, and internationalization.
Our Collaboration: A Tribute to Manuel de Falla and Wanda Landowska
At Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), we are proudly supporting this 25th anniversary by assisting with programming design, technical coordination, and promotion, as well as making one of the edition’s major highlights possible.
This year's festival coincides with the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manuel de Falla and the 80th anniversary of his passing—an event officially designated by the Government of Spain as an "Event of Exceptional Public Interest". The festival honors his legacy with a very special concert dedicated to the legendary Polish harpsichordist Wanda Landowska. A revolutionary figure in the revival of early music and the harpsichord, Landowska shared a close musical bond and friendship with the composer from Cádiz, serving as both the performer and inspiration for some of his greatest works.
Concert: «Wanda Landowska, miradas. En el centenario del “concerto” de Manuel de Falla» (Wanda Landowska, Perspectives. On the Centenary of Manuel de Falla's "Concerto").
Performers: The acclaimed ensemble La Tempestad, under the direction of harpsichordist and conductor Silvia Márquez Chulilla.
The Programme: An extraordinary musical journey featuring works by Bach, Scarlatti, Couperin, Haydn, and Landowska herself, culminating in Manuel de Falla's landmark Concerto for Harpsichord and Five Instruments, which he dedicated to the Polish performer and premiered in 1926.
Date: July 23, 2026.
Venue: Iglesia del Convento de San Luis, Vélez Blanco.
More info: https://www.festivaldepoesiademedellin.org
Through this collaboration, AC/E reaffirms its commitment to rural demographic development, the internationalization of our creators, and the preservation and promotion of Spanish musical heritage within unique historical landmarks.
