Xàbia’s famous ‘Living Chess’ celebrates 25 years with a musical journey
A special concert will offer a magical evening of music that will review the two and a half decades of this special event through its extensive soundtrack.
Monday 19th July 2021 – XÀBIA AL DÍA with Mike Smith
Xàbia’s famous ‘Living Chess‘ turns 25 this year. The pioneering initiative of the Festes Mare de Déu de Loreto Commission celebrates a quarter of a century in the midst of the current pandemic situation that prevents the staging of the normal event which brings together many people to tell a different story each year.
However, the organizers have not wanted to miss the opportunity to share this important milestone with the general public as something of a prelude to a future celebration. Thus, following all the current health recommendations and seeking to guarantee the safety of all those attending, a special concert entitled “La Música dels Escacs Vivents de Xàbia: 25 anys d’una Festa d’Interés Turístic Nacional“.
The concert will take place on Saturday 31st July at 10.00pm on the sports courtyard next to CEIP Port de Xàbia, the symphonic orchestra of the Centre Artístic Musical de Xàbia (CAM) will offer a magical evening of music that will review the two and a half decades of this special event through its extensive soundtrack.
The repertoire will be as varied as the themes addressed throughout the history of ‘Living Chess’ have been different and will include works from films such as Harry Potter, Forrest Gump, the music of the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, and compositions by great composers such as Strauss and Prokofiev. In addition, the selected score will be complemented with emotional moments from the history of the event and include a small exhibition with some of the most iconic props and costumes used over its 25 year history.
Tickets are priced at 2 euros, which represent a symbolic collaboration with the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the festivities that honor Mare de Déu de Loreto that should have taken place this year and that the fiesta commission proposes to celebrate in some way as soon as the health situation allows it.
Given that the capacity is limited, those wanting to attend should contact the Department of Culture either by telephone on 96 579 43 44 between 8.00am and 2.00pm Monday to Thursday and between 8.00am and 12.00pm on Friday, or send an email to reservacultura@ajxabia.org.
All attendees must comply with health protocols, including the wearing of a mask, hand disinfection, and social distancing, etc.
Els Escacs Vivents de Xàbia emerged in 1996 with the aim of culturally enhancing the centenary celebrations of the fiesta held in honour of Mare de Déu de Loreto – aka the “port fiesta” – and consolidating even more if possible the esteem that the commission has for the sport. The uniqueness of the event is that it humanizes the pieces that make up the chess board to offer a theatrical performance and narrate a parallel story based on the reproduction of a game played historically or one created especially for the occasion.
The pieces are played by the young boys and girls of the municipality whilst the organization and logistics are the result of the selfless work of a group of willing residents.
The uniqueness of the event and its repercussion are so striking that, in 2002, it was declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest, the only local celebration that holds this title at the moment.
