The International Festival of Panticosa ‘Touching the Sky’ Presents Its Most Exotic Edition with the Theme of the Silk Road
The International Festival of Panticosa ‘Touching the Sky’ has unveiled its XIII edition under the title From East to West, which will take place from July 18 to July 24, 2025. Organized by the García Esteban Foundation, this edition promises to be the most exotic and original by using the historic Silk Road as a thread to connect cultures and musical traditions from Asia and Europe.
Chinese Music Will Feature Prominently in the Presentation
The presentation took place last night at the Caja Rural de Aragón building in Zaragoza, with the participation of a delegation from the Cultural Center of China in Madrid. The 10-year-old Chinese harpist Liu Can, a student of Xiaotong Li, provided a musical demonstration that encapsulated the essence of this edition. The event was also attended by Xu Tingting, the deputy director of the Cultural Center of China in Madrid, along with several musicians of Chinese origin.
Innovative Programming of the ‘Great Concerts’ Series
The festival will kick off on July 18 with a joint recital by sopranos Ainhoa Arteta and Nancy Fabiola Herrera, who met at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The programming continues with:
- July 19: Xiaotong Li (Chinese harpist) with a musical journey through tales and legends of the Silk Road, interpreted with guzheng, the traditional Chinese harp
- July 20: Synthèse Quartet, a saxophone quartet with a multicultural repertoire
- July 21: GlassDuo, a Polish duo that uses musical glasses as instruments
- July 22: Violinist Alma Olite and pianist Jorge Nava exploring cross-influences in European music
- July 23: Korean guitarist Deion Cho paying tribute to the 75th anniversary of institutional relations between Korea and Spain
- July 24: Closing concert with the chamber orchestra Concerto Málaga conducted by José Manuel Gil Gálvez
Proposals and Complementary Activities
The festival includes the traditional Vermut Concierto with viol player Pilar Almalé (July 19) and sound creator Idiope blending folklore, nature, and electronic music (July 21). Additionally, the Festival OFF will feature musical excursions, artistic discussions, and workshops, highlighted by the excursion on July 22 with Muro Kvartet along the Sponsored Trails of Hoz de Jaca.
Institutional Support and Notable Ambassadors
The festival is supported by personalities such as actors Itziar Miranda and Nacho Rubio as official ambassadors, alongside Ainhoa Arteta, Nancy Fabiola Herrera, painter Eva Armisén, and writers Manuel Vilas and Ana Merino. Among the sponsors are Energías de Panticosa and Fundación Caja Rural de Aragón, with support from the Balneario de Panticosa and Bodegas Enate. The event holds the EFFE Label of European Festivals and is part of Festclásica, the Spanish Association of Classical Music Festivals.
The festival director, Carmen Esteban, emphasized the mission to bring music to all audiences, while Laura Prada, director of the Fundación Caja Rural de Aragón, expressed her excitement about participating in this lovingly crafted festival, which offers high-quality culture.
