The 18th International Azores Festival (FIA), celebrating cultural diversity from the Atlantic and beyond, is taking place from August 31 to September 16.
For the first time, the festival will extend its reach to cover the nine islands of the archipelago.
Since its creation in 1984, the mega event has been a stage for renowned international and local artists, with concerts, performances, and exhibits.
The FIA will unfold thematically from the roots of the Atlantic and the diaspora, establishing a connection through various cultural destinations as varied as the USA, Brazil, and many other artistic expressions across diverse latitudes.
Concerts and performances will feature a rich array of artists, including Pavel Gomziakov, Andrei Korobeinikov, Tatiana Samouil, Gustaaf van Manen, António Capelo, Artur Pizarro, Adriano Jordão, André Gago, Júlio Resende, António Vitorino de Almeida, Maria João, and Herman José.
The FIA has traditionally focused on classical music. However, this year’s program embraces eclectic diversity, expanding beyond the classical theme and incorporating various artistic languages, such as jazz, literature, and performing arts. More than 40 activities are scheduled for the event.
In an interview with the Lusa news agency, project manager, Tiago Nunes, emphasized this year’s ambition to cover all the islands of the Azores. This challenging logistical goal demonstrates the festival’s commitment to uniting the different communities of the region.
“There are few projects that attempt to have a programmatic line that unites all the islands. We are going to the nine islands. It’s not an easy project. Logistically, it’s challenging, but we try to carry out this ambition. Also, because it’s the 18th edition, we can say that we are emancipating ourselves,” Tiago Nunes remarked.
In addition to the focus on classical music, which is the historical foundation of the festival, the FIA will venture into the realms of jazz, Brazilian music, and other forms of artistic expression. The international participation with the local community will further enrich the program, solidifying the FIA’s commitment to connecting with and celebrating the cultural diversity of the Azores and beyond.
PAJ/Staff
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
