One year after UNESCO designated Colombia’s capital, Bogota, as one of five Creative Cities of Music around the world, the city will celebrate by launching the First International Music Festival of Bogota, “Bogota is Beethoven.”
In assessing Bogota’s candidature for the designation, the world body considered the city’s vast history of fostering all musical genres including opera, salsa, folk, rock, pop and hip-hop; the number of music festivals such as Rock al Parque, Festival Centro, Festival de Vallenato, the International Jazz Festival and Opera al Parque; and the amount of music schools, orchestras and associations throughout Bogota. With this honor Bogota joined an elite group of cities comprised of Seville, Bologna, Glasgow and Ghent that make up part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Network of Creative Cities.
BACKGROUND: Bogota names UNESCO City of Music
To celebrate the milestone, Bogota has created the I Festival Internacional de Musica de Bogota “Bogota es Beethoven” (First International Music Festival of Bogota “Bogota is Beethoven”). The Festival which seeks to create an inclusive space for all citizens around music, will be held on odd number years to alternate with the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogota (The Ibero-American Festival of Theater in Bogota) during Holy Week. The inaugural event will occur on March 27 when Bogota will become a grand auditorium to showcase the masterful compositions of German composer Ludwig Van Beethoven.
Coordinated by the Teatro Mayor Santo Domingo, the Ministry of Culture, Recreation and Sport and the District Institute of Arts-IDARTES, the exciting programming includes 56 concerts performed by over 420 Colombian and international artists. Concerts will be held in 12 different venues throughout the city, with the Teatro Mayor Santo Domingo being the coordinating body. The last concert will bow at 3PM on Sunday, March 30.
To ensure access for all music lovers, ticket prices are being kept between $10,000 COP (US $ 5.50) and $20,000 COP (US $10.95), with 14 open-air concerts being performed for free. Complete programming and venue information can be found at: www.bogotaesmusica.com