Organizers Strengthen the Artist Residency in the Village of Leiguarda and Expand the Visual and Musical Aspects, Starting Today with a Concert at the Monastery of San Antolín de Bedón (Llanes)
The Adar Festival, named after the organization that founded it—the Association for the Development of the Arts in Rural Areas—has launched its fourth edition. This atypical festival breaks away from classic summer events, blending the passion of its creators, Guillermo Laporta and Josefina Urraca, for music and contemporary arts with a strong commitment to rural life. It’s a fusion they eagerly wish to share with those who value it as they do, hoping it will act as a catalyst for growth in these rural spaces.
In fact, both founders—she from Palencia and he from Huesca—are professional musicians who split their time between New York, where they live and work half the year, and the small village of Leiguarda in Belmonte de Miranda, where the festival has put down roots and is growing healthily. This fourth edition brings plenty of new features.
“It’s a privilege for us that a project that began humbly, as something of a bold idea, is now in its fourth edition, each year with more activities, more people involved, and more integrated disciplines. Little by little, we are achieving the project’s main goal: revitalizing rural areas of Asturias through what we know best—art and classical music,” says Guillermo Laporta. He emphasizes that their focus is on “creating something original and valuable for both the residents of the area and the participating artists.”
Regarding the edition that started a few days ago, the organizers say, “This year we have solidified the festival’s two branches. The first is the artist residency in Leiguarda, culminating in a final concert on the 18th, where we will set up greenhouses to host musicians and place a grand piano amid the mountains.” Additionally, the festival is expanding its visual art section, “with art installations in Grado and a new outdoor sculpture in Leiguarda created by American artist Sarah K. Williams.” The second branch of this edition is what they’ve called the Adar Festival on the Road, which will bring performances to Llanes, Cornellana, Pola de Somiedo, and Grado.
The first stop will take place today, with a concert at the Monastery of San Antolín de Bedón (Llanes) at 7:30 PM. The event will feature musicians and artists of international standing, including Jone de la Fuente (violin), Almudena Rivas (viola), Natania Hoffman (cello), Mario Molina (piano), and, of course, Guillermo Laporta (flute) and Josefina Urraca (piano). The festival program includes works by Mozart, Debussy, Vivaldi, and contemporary composers such as Andrea Casarrubios. Following Llanes, there will be performances at San Salvador (Salas) on Tuesday (8:00 PM), Wednesday at the Pola de Somiedo Market, and Friday in Leiguarda, with a variety of events starting at 9:30 PM, including an “open mic” at the Casantos granary. Saturday will feature activities in Grado, and Sunday will conclude with a closing concert around the Leiguarda Church (7:30 PM), wrapping up the festival.
As they continue to emphasize, “The Adar Festival is not only a platform for artistic expression but also a driver for socio-economic development and the promotion of rural tourism in Asturias.”