Villanueva de Huerva Hosts Its II Ancient Music Festival Featuring Nine Free Concerts in September
The Zaragoza municipality will welcome world-class performers in its parish church during the afternoons of September 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21. The second edition of the festival, which has significantly expanded compared to 2024, will highlight the historic organ from 1607 located in the Church of Our Lady of Angels.
The nine scheduled concerts will provide a journey through different eras and styles of ancient European music. The inauguration will take place on Sunday, September 7, with the local musical project Viaggio da Venezia a Amsterdam, which will present «The Taste of the Beautiful. Bayle Music for Violin in Spain 1770,» followed by the Navarre trio Hespérides, featuring the voice of Zuberoa Aznárez accompanied by historical instruments such as harps, vielle, rabel, and zanfonia.
Charo Lázaro, the delegated cultural councilor, highlighted that Villanueva de Huerva «will become the epicenter of ancient music» this September and emphasized the importance of the historic organ from 1607 as «a heritage jewel» restored by the Zaragoza Provincial Council.
On September 13, the historic organ will be in the hands of Galician performer Alejandra Escolante, who will perform works from the 18th century by composers such as Father Antonio Soler and Carlos Seixas. The day will continue with actress Nuria Lestegás and the Cuarteto Alicerce in a program dedicated to the Alday family of violinists from Menorca.
The festival includes a family-oriented event on Saturday, September 20, with the Ensemble Musicantes, which will present «The Dragon and the Greedy Knight,» a medieval tale aimed specifically at children to introduce them to the music and instruments of the Middle Ages.
The closing event on September 21 will feature two performances: Portuguese virtuoso Tiago Matias will present «Iberia. A Journey Through Iberian Music from the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries,» playing baroque guitar and vihuela, followed by the duo Modern Baroque with «Dance by the Huerva River. Music and Dance in Goya’s Time,» where dancer Inés Turmo will perform historical dances while Carlos González plays the organ.
Organization and Access to Events
The concerts are free but require an invitation in advance, which can be obtained via a QR code on the official poster or through the website of the Interpretation Center «Dinosaurs of Zaragoza» (www.dinosauriosdezaragoza.com), a collaborating entity for the event. Attendees on Sundays will enjoy snacks with local wines after the concerts.
Jesús Martín, artistic director of the festival, explained that the initiative arose to «revitalize» the organ restored in 2005, taking advantage of «the perfect acoustics» of the parish church. Organist Carlos González described the instrument as «very beautiful but also with great sound qualities.»
The festival represents an opportunity for Villanueva de Huerva to position itself on the cultural map, attract visitors, and provide its residents with an enriching cultural experience centered on the European musical legacy of past centuries.
