One of the most fabulous festivals in Mendoza is about to commence, ladies and gentlemen drumroll please… Classical Music on the Wine Routes. A week-long classical music extravaganza from the 12th to the 20th of April sees classical musicians from around the world play free concerts in wineries and other performances spaces across the province and often accompanied by a glass or two of Malbec.
The festival is in its fourth year, and is one of the most hotly anticipated events in the year’s calendar for the caliber of musicians accompanied by fabulous venues and good wine. Each year the tickets are exchanged for bags of milk powder in a food drive for feeding young children.
Highlights this year include:
April 12. 11am.
Opening the festival is a Bolivian soloist who will be performing in Aconcagua Park on the Laguna de Horcones in front of the impressive peak of Aconcagua mountain and in one of the most awesome settings.
April 17. 4pm.
In the beautiful champagneria of Bodega Tapiz in front of the sparkling Roggerone mural, a duet of song and harp will be performed by Mendocinean musicians Griselda Lopez Zalba and Ramiro Albino. The performance is always followed by Tapiz’s wine and a free picada.
April 18. 11.30am
Clos de los Siete hosts two concerts on Friday morning, first of all a trio called ‘Wind & Mallets’ playing at Monteviejo followed by a group of flautists ‘MEI’ in neighboring Diamandes.
April 19. 4pm.
Salentein always hosts one of the most photogenic concerts in their stunning greek theatre style cellar room. This year the space is taken over by ‘Musike’ from Buenos Aires for some Mozart and Schumann.
April 20. 9pm.
The closing concert in the Teatre Independencia is one of the real gems of the festival with a specially commissioned orchestra for the event, the ‘Caminos del Vino Orchestra’. A glorious ending to what is one of the best music and wine events in Mendoza.
A full listing of concerts is available on www.cultura.mendoza.gov.ar
You can exchange milk for tickets at the Ministry of Culture (corner of Espana and Gutierrez) from 8 April till tickets sell out.
Amanda Barnes is a British journalist living in Argentina and enjoying the daily music of life.
