A musical journey through the first circumnavigation

For the first time in two years, Instituto Cervantes, the cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, held a concert to start the month of May at the National Museum of Fine Arts (Old Senate Hall).

The first concert under the so-called “new normal” highlighted Pedro Bonet, a music professor among other professions. The Spanish performer who came all the way from Spain specializes on the recorder, he is also a founding member and director of the Baroque Music Ensemble “La Folía,” a veteran group internationally recognized in the field of historical performance. Pedro has held concerts in more than 40 countries on five continents and recorded albums such as “Baroque Madrid,” “Instrumental Music in the Age of Velázquez,” and “La Nao de China (Music from the Spanish trade route to the Far East).”

Titled “From the first circumnavigation to the Manila Galleon: Music on the Iberian circumnavigation routes,” the concert was organized in the framework of the Quincentennial celebration of the first circumnavigation, one of the greatest achievements of humanity. The musical pieces, which was played on 14 different flutes, were carefully selected to represent a site in the journey or historical figure relevant to this expedition.

Prior to the concert, there was a guided tour to the exhibit “The Longest Journey: The First Journey Around the World.” Also organized in the framework of the First Circumnavigation by the Embassy of Spain and the National Museum, the exhibit highlighted the entire route of the voyage through a display of objects and artifacts, alongside priceless documents preserved at the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain, and other important archives, libraries, and museums.

The concert was organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila with the collaboration of the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines and the National Museum of the Philippines.

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