FIMUCITÉ 20 Red Carpet Gala – EN

Posted on 2026-07-242026-07-24

FIMUCITÉ 20 Red Carpet Gala

Where Emotions Truly Awaken

The foyer of Auditorio de Tenerife had been transformed into a true Hollywood-style red carpet, complete with a step-and-repeat wall. The evening celebrated the 20th anniversary of FIMUCITÉ with a programme made up entirely of Academy Award-winning film scores. Even Diego Navarro, the festival’s artistic director and conductor, embraced the occasion by appearing in an elegant white tuxedo. Every detail had been carefully thought through.

The First Rush of Emotion

The concert opened with three selections from Ben-Hur. And honestly… how could anyone not feel excited when the very first thing they hear is the triumphant brass of “Fanfare to Prelude”? How could you? I could almost feel the dopamine rushing through my body with every passing phrase.

The real magic, however, began with a brief journey to the East. Anyone who knows me already knows that there is hardly anything in the world that fascinates me more than the richness of Eastern cultures. It was another reminder of just how deeply Eastern music has influenced Diego as an artist. He has a genuine love for the sounds and instruments that give this music its unmistakable character.

Where Music Becomes Sacred

The first piece in this section was “Theme” from The Last Emperor. That was the moment I experienced goosebumps for the first time that evening. They spread from the back of my head all the way down my spine, through my arms and legs. Only one thought crossed my mind: “This is sacred to me.”. No one will ever take away the joy I find in experiencing music this way. What captivated me just as much were the subtle movements of Diego’s left hand, delicately shaping the Asian quarter tones with almost imperceptible gestures.

Another unforgettable moment came with “Pi’s Lullaby” from Life of Pi. A piece that feels especially close to my heart because of its unmistakably Indian soundscape. Then, the soloist Aborá Cel walked onto the stage wearing a beautiful pink sari that immediately caught my attention. Her warm, soothing voice was accompanied by traditional Eastern instruments, including the Indian bamboo flute, the bansuri, performed by Juani Cantero, and the tanpura, played by Gonzalo De Araoz Vigil. Together, they created an atmosphere that brought me close to a state of complete serenity. I clearly wasn’t the only one who felt it. As soon as the piece ended, the audience at the Auditorio rose to their feet for the first standing ovation of the evening. It certainly wouldn’t be the last. If I counted correctly, there were seven standing ovations before the concert came to an end.

When You Believe

I honestly thought the second half of the concert would simply maintain the incredible level of the first. I couldn’t have been more wrong…

With every piece, the emotional intensity kept building. The audience found themselves rising to their feet again and again in thunderous applause. I experienced goosebumps so many times that I eventually caught myself wondering how it was even possible.

And then there were moments that brought tears to my eyes. One of them was “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt. It all began with a few heartfelt words from Diego. Before the music started, he spoke about how perfectly the lyrics reflected the twenty-year journey of FIMUCITÉ. After hearing him, I believe everyone in the audience listened a little more closely. It became one of those rare moments that quietly remind you it is always worth believing in your dreams, no matter what life brings. Cristina Ramos and Estefanía Rodríguez delivered breathtaking performances. Every phrase stirred something new inside me. What touched me just as much was seeing how completely at home they felt on stage. They shared both the music and the moment with the audience.

Tears in My Eyes

Another deeply moving moment came with the suite from Shakespeare in Love. Seeing the film’s composer, Stephen Warbeck, sitting in the audience made the performance even more special. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen. He is every bit as kind, warm and joyful as his music might lead you to imagine.

A fresh wave of emotion tightened my throat as the music from Titanic filled the hall. Some stories never lose their power, no matter how many years pass. Titanic is undoubtedly one of them. It continues to move audiences regardless of age, time or circumstance. The Tenerife Film Choir added yet another emotional layer that once again left tears gathering in the corners of my eyes.

An Explosion of Emotions

One of the pieces that touched me most deeply was the “Flying Theme” from E.T. Perhaps the melody alone would not have affected me quite so profoundly if it hadn’t been for the short story Diego told just before it began. His words allowed me to picture a little boy watching E.T. for the very first time. He was completely captivated by the music that would one day shape his life. After hearing that story, I found myself drifting back to the dreams I carried as a child.

Not every piece spoke to me in the same way. Some awakened something entirely different –something powerful, majestic and almost hypnotic. One of those moments was the suite from The Lord of the Rings. The orchestra’s commanding sound intertwined beautifully with the choir and the remarkable voice of Ciro Moreno. There was something incredibly genuine and deeply touching about his presence on stage.

Following the Conductor’s Breath

Towards the end of the evening, I must mention one more piece that left a lasting impression on me: music from The Red Violin. It is a remarkable work, but also an incredibly demanding one, not only for the audience, but even more so for the performers and the conductor. Watching violin soloist Javier Comesaña, the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, and Diego Navarro navigate its complexity filled me with a growing sense of tension. You could feel that intensity in almost every phrase.

For the first time that evening, I felt as though I wasn’t listening only to the orchestra. I could hear Diego’s breathing. The musicians followed it like a single living organism. It appeared and disappeared just before each new entrance, like the rhythm of the ocean’s tides. Knowing that the composer himself, John Corigliano, was sitting in the audience couldn’t have made the performance any easier. Yet they delivered it brilliantly. The standing ovation that followed was the longest of the evening, apart from the final applause. And, strangely enough, I felt relieved too.

There could hardly have been a more fitting finale than “Duel of the Fates” from Star Wars. John Williams’ music has undoubtedly shaped Diego Navarro both as a composer and as a conductor. And for me, this was the moment when everything reached its emotional peak. The choir was magnificent and terrifying at the same time. I could feel their voices resonating through my entire body, and when the orchestra joined them… An explosion.

A True Awakening of Emotions

Diego Navarro carefully shaped a programme that kept me completely captivated (and, I believe, much of the audience as well). He unleashed an avalanche of emotions that gathered strength like ocean waves before finally erupting with the force of a volcano. A true awakening of emotions.

I’m grateful that Diego is surrounded by people who share his passion and dedication, taking care of every detail. From the musicians, sound and lighting engineers to the stage crew and everyone working behind the scenes, each person contributes something essential to creating an experience capable of moving so many hearts.

Twenty years of FIMUCITÉ are about much more than the history of a festival. They are about thousands of emotions that have found their way into people’s hearts over the years. And after this concert, I know one thing for certain. I am one of them.

In Diego Navarro’s Studio

Posted on 2026-05-072026-05-07

In the Composer’s Studio

– about music, emotions, and finding my way back to myself

This text didn’t come when it was meant to.
For a long time, I thought it should have been written in 2022 when everything happened. But that was a time when I felt far away from myself. My sensitivity and creativity had gone quiet for a while. I wasn’t writing. I wasn’t creating. My life revolved around a simple pattern – work, home, work. My soul was trying to break through, to make itself heard, but not quite successfully.

It was my second time visiting Tenerife. This time, I stayed in the island’s capital – Santa Cruz de Tenerife. I spent a week there. I was in a beautiful place, but not entirely within myself.

A Meeting in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

One day, I was invited by Diego Navarro to visit his studio. It wasn’t easy to align our schedules, but eventually we managed. One late afternoon, I went to the place he had given me. It was very close to where I was staying – right in the city center.

I remember how my heart was pounding as I stood in front of the door. I felt that something unfamiliar was about to happen. Excitement was mixed with a quiet kind of fear.

A Sacred Space

His studio wasn’t very large. From today’s perspective, it’s hard to remember all the details, but I remember that the first room was filled with posters, awards, and various objects connected to him and the world of film music. It felt like a living museum – a space where you could glimpse both the artist and his life.

The second room was different. It was the command center. A composer’s sacred space. There were multiple monitors, speakers, a piano, and many other devices I probably couldn’t even name. I also remember posters from films he had composed music for.

I still remember the feeling of being slightly overwhelmed as I crossed the threshold. My body needed an extra second before stepping inside. It was a place where I could see not only the results of someone’s work, but the entire process of being an artist. This was where the first sounds and emotions were born.

We sat down and started talking. I asked him what was more difficult – the act of creating or letting the work go into the world. He paused for a moment. I was deeply curious about what happens inside a composer’s mind, what thoughts move through it. There was something almost intimidating in how much I wanted to understand it.

Music Flowing Through the Body

At some point, I had the privilege of listening to a piece that hadn’t been released yet. It was the first time I experienced music in a professional studio, through high-quality speakers where the sound felt clear and spacious. I will never forget that feeling. I felt shivers throughout my whole body, as the composition was rich with strings and choir – two elements that always move me in the same way. Then, I closed my eyes. I sat completely still, although my foot was unconsciously following the rhythm. I didn’t try to analyze it. My body and my heart understood faster than my mind.

I was also surprised by subtle Slavic elements in his music. We started talking about it. He tried to describe the film without revealing too much, just enough for me to understand the musical themes he had created. I could see the scenes in my imagination as he spoke.

I remember how deeply that meeting affected me. For the first time, I saw an artist in his sacred space – the place where everything is born and refined. I felt as if, for a moment, I stepped into his world. Imagine that I could sense the emotions of someone who knows that their work will soon be released into the world, and that they will have to let it go. I saw a person who could describe through words what he feels while composing. I discovered the story he wanted to tell through sound.

It Will Stay With Me Forever

How do I know that this meeting was so meaningful and inspiring to me, even though at the time I couldn’t find the strength or the words to express it?

First, I still remember it, even if not in every detail.
And second, the next morning, I woke up at sunrise, stepped onto the balcony of my hotel room, and wrote a poem. Just like that – while looking at the ocean and the rising sun. It was a flow that needed to find its way out.

Today, I understand that this moment started to open something in me again. That’s why this text could only be written now. Maybe that’s also why I needed to hear from him: “try to imagine that situation again and imagine what would have you felt but living it now.” So I did.

Thank you, Maestro.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife EN

Posted on 2025-07-262025-07-29

Santa Cruz de Tenerife – the dreamland

A city that breaks all my rules

Those who know me are well aware that I could never live in a big city. I can pop in for a day, maybe a few, but never for long. I always feel overwhelmed by the noise, the smells, the sheer number of shops with their flashing lights, loud music, and overflowing displays. The constant hum of traffic, trams, buses, and sirens—from ambulances, police or fire trucks—drives me mad.

And yet, I found a place that, despite being a big city, feels completely different. Not because it lacks all those typical urban elements. It was because they somehow fade away behind the parks, the ocean, and the pedestrian streets. I’m talking about Santa Cruz, on the island of Tenerife.

Where mountains meet the sea

What enchanted me most about this city was the coexistence of mountains and the ocean. I sat on a bench facing the waves, and just to my left stretched a vast mountainous landscape. I was in a bustling capital, yet it didn’t feel like it at all. There was only the sound of the sea around me, the wind in my hair, and greenery everywhere I looked.

Green oases in the heart of the city

When I got a little bored of staring at the ocean, I wandered deeper into the urban rhythm and found myself in a huge park. Once again, the outside noise seemed to disappear. I sat beneath the shade of palm trees and marveled at the diversity of plant life. The sweet scent of frangipani drifted around me as its flowers gently fell onto the pavement.

People of all ages strolled by, many with dogs happily greeting one another. I was soaking in this peaceful moment when a sweet older gentleman with a labrador came over and struck up a conversation. He was curious—where I was from, what I was doing here, how I ended up in this place. And I was happy to share.

A taste of Tenerife

Hunger only became a problem because of the overwhelming number of food options—not the lack of them. Sure, you could try cuisine from all over the world here. However I always find myself gravitating toward small, cozy eateries—tasca style. There I can enjoy mouthwatering papas arrugadas with mojo rojo and mojo verde, or heavenly grilled goat cheese (queso asado). Honestly, I don’t need anything more. Well, maybe the sardines too—they’re amazing!

I’ve got a few go-to spots I’d gladly recommend for lunch or dinner.

Leche y leche – coffee with soul

This time around, I almost left Tenerife without remembering to have the most delicious coffee under the sun. Ironically, I never sweeten my coffee—but leche y leche? Pure poetry.

There are plenty of places to enjoy. But for me, nothing beat sipping it at a café right next to the lush Parque García Sanabria.

Rooftops, pools, and sunsets

In the evening—or just before sunset—it’s worth finding a rooftop bar or a terrace on one of the upper floors. The views over the city, the mountains, and the ocean are simply breathtaking.

There are even spots where you can swim in a glass-bottom pool. You can sip a drink inside a crocodile… or a frog. That, too, was quite the experience.

Auditorio – the beating heart of the city

The place that moved me most this time around was Auditorio de Tenerife. Its architecture took my breath away from the outside alone—let alone the interior. And yes, you can also sit here, face the ocean, and sip something lovely in great company.

A place that soothes the soul

All of this made me forget I was in a big city. I felt no pressure, no overstimulation—just options for quiet and grounding whenever I needed them. Even wandering through the city center wasn’t so bad.

If I ever had to leave my small town behind, Santa Cruz de Tenerife would be at the top of my list.
The fact that I’ve returned here for the second time—completely by choice—says a lot.