English

For the survival of the Festival de Musica de Bunyola

The town of Bunyola can be proud of hosting every Autumn for the last 24 years, a prestigious cultural event, the Festival de Musica de Bunyola. All through this time, thanks to the hard work of its director, Bartomeu Quetgles, the Festival has become a beam of light in the darkness of (what can be perceived at times to be) a  cultural desert, not only in our town, but in Mallorca as a whole.

Nevertheless, the present majority of our town council, (its official organiser) has decided to put an end to it and to get rid of the Festival de Musica de Bunyola we know: We do not accept such a decision, and the way it has been taken; ignoring the present director and taking no account of the exemplary job he has done (without payment) all these years his excellent job only for his love to the music and his town.

The Festival has been, for many of us, a gateway to the world of music. Bunyola has welcomed some of the most prominent names in the scene of European classical and historically informed music, but at the same time, the Festival has never turned its back on the people of Bunyola and has always made room for the performances of music students and recitals of young professionals. Proof that this policy has had a direct impact on the community is the fact that so many young  Bunyolins have been inspired by the their experiences with the Festival de Musica de Bunyola and pursued a career in music.

That is why we ask the councillor of Culture and the whole municipal majority for a rethink of their decision. For the respect and the prestige of Bunyola, and for the respect of music, we ask for the maintenance of the Festival de Musica de Bunyola in its present form, as well as for the maintenance of its director, Bartomeu Quetgles, and we make an appeal to the Bunyolins and to all music lovers to sign our petition.

Bunyola, 1st September 2008