An event that aims to foster linguistic diversity and promote language learning

The main event will be a concert taking place tomorrow, September 26, at 7:00 p.m., in Alaior

The Government of the Balearic Islands, through the Institute of Balearic Studies (IEB) and the Directorate-General for Institutional Relations and Relations with Parliament of the Ministry of Presidency, Coordination of Government Action and Local Cooperation, once again celebrates the European Day of Languages. This initiative seeks to celebrate and promote linguistic diversity and will take place tomorrow, September 26, with a concert in Alaior in collaboration with the Town Council and the Island Council of Menorca.

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Celebration of the European Day of Languages

The Council of Europe and the European Union launched the celebration of the European Day of Languages in 2001, with the aim of fostering linguistic diversity and promoting language learning. That same year, Spain ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in order to protect the right to use these languages both in private and in public within the territory where each language is spoken.

Since then, every September 26, this anniversary has been commemorated to showcase Europe’s linguistic richness and promote intercultural understanding among millions of European citizens. Catalan, as the native language of the Balearic Islands, represents the islands’ contribution—together with other territories where it is spoken—to Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

This year, the central event of the commemoration will be a concert featuring two special musical performances: Debanant paraules, by the group Tallats de Lluna, and the string quartet of the Balearic Islands Symphony Orchestra (OSIB), accompanied by mezzo-soprano Laura de la Fuente.

The group Tallats de Lluna will present Debanant paraules, a performance where sounds and words, music and poems come together, blended slowly yet firmly, so that the audience can savour them with emotion. The repertoire includes texts and poems by authors such as Damià Huguet, Joan Pomar, Miquel Martí i Pol, Enric Balaguer, Bernat Nadal, Montserrat Abelló, Narcís Comadira, Lluís Solà, Vicent Andrés Estellés, Lluís Llach, Raimon, Palau i Fabre, Antònia Font, Lucia Pietrelli, Joana Raspall, Salvador Espriu, Guillem d’Efak, Antonina Canyelles, Jaume Rosselló and Agnès Vanrell.

The OSIB string quartet, together with Laura de la Fuente, will perform the following pieces: O mio babbino caro (Italian), by G. Puccini; La Habanera (French), by G. Bizet; Bésame mucho (Spanish), by C. Velázquez; and Ode to Joy (German), by Schiller, adapted by Ludwig van Beethoven.

The concert will be free and open to the public, and will be held in the Cloister of the Convent of San Diego, in Alaior, at 7:00 p.m.