DistantNews
Support us
Paraguay government to celebrate musical festival honoring celebrated guitarist Mangoré
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Paraguay government to celebrate musical festival honoring celebrated guitarist Mangoré

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The Paraguayan government will host an international guitar festival honoring the renowned classical guitarist Agustín Barrios, known as Mangoré.
  • The festival, scheduled for July 24-25 in Barrios' hometown, aims to celebrate his legacy and boost the local economy.
  • The event will feature concerts and artistic exchanges, highlighting Paraguay's cultural heritage and tourism potential.

The Paraguayan government is set to host an international festival celebrating the legacy of Agustín Barrios, affectionately known as Mangoré, one of the most celebrated classical guitarists from the South American nation. The festival, named the Agustín Barrios International Guitar Festival (FIGAB), will take place on July 24 and 25 in San Juan Bautista, the hometown of the musician who passed away in 1944.

Jacinto Santa María, the head of Paraguay's National Secretariat of Tourism (Senatur), emphasized the enduring relevance of Barrios' music on the world stage. "His legacy remains vibrant on the most important stages in the world, and this festival will pay homage to the memory of an exceptional artist," Santa María stated in a press release. Barrios, born in 1885 into a musically inclined family, gained international acclaim for his virtuosity and his unique fusion of classical guitar techniques with indigenous South American sounds, including the Paraguayan polka and Argentine tango.

His legacy remains vibrant on the most important stages in the world, and this festival will pay homage to the memory of an exceptional artist.

— Jacinto Santa MaríaJacinto Santa María, head of the National Secretariat of Tourism of Paraguay, spoke about the significance of the festival honoring Agustín Barrios.

The FIGAB aims not only to honor Barrios but also to stimulate significant economic activity in Misiones, the department where San Juan Bautista is located. Senatur highlighted that "when a community values its cultural heritage, it generates opportunities for its people and strengthens its positioning as a tourist destination." The festival is designed to offer attendees a comprehensive experience, including concerts, artistic exchanges, and opportunities to explore the local gastronomy and tourist attractions of Misiones, a region rich in Jesuit heritage.

In recent years, the work and figure of Mangoré have been championed by acclaimed Paraguayan guitarist Berta Rojas. Rojas, a Latin Grammy winner in 2022, is also known for her collaboration with Argentine musician Gustavo Santaolalla on the theme music for the television series "The Last of Us." Her efforts have contributed to a renewed appreciation for Barrios' contributions to classical guitar music.

When a community values its cultural heritage, it generates opportunities for its people and strengthens its positioning as a tourist destination.

— Jacinto Santa MaríaSanta María explained the broader economic and tourism benefits expected from the festival.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog