FIMUCITÉ 2009 – Welcome Message from the Director

With the experience of the previous 2 Editions and in spite of the crisis, Fimucité is back thanks to the support of our main sponsor, Cabildo de Tenerife (the island’s Government). If the first Edition was such an experience, the second one was beyond our expectations. These two years we have had the pleasure of bringing the best of film music’s magic and art to Tenerife. Tenerife is more than sea and sun, there is plenty to discover, and Fimucité proves it. 

Fimucité 2 meant such a step forward compared to Fimucité 1 in many ways. After such a tough work, the Festival grows strong and becomes an important international event in the film music industry. Fimucité, our Festival, is a very rare dream that comes true thanks to effort of very few people that devote themselves to it for a whole year, not caring about extra hours nor lack of sleep… because film music is our passion. 

The quantity and quality of last years’ music is impressive. Many of the compositions were world premières specially arranged for the Festival, the Tenerife Film Orchestra and Choir played them all beautifully. I must outline the great work developed by our Orchestra and Choir. Our great friend Robert Townson, Vice President of the prestigious label Varese Sarabande, collaborator of our Festival and loyal witness of what has taken place these past two Editions, writes in his DVD-CD of our Fimucité 2008 closing night concert booklet his impressions about it. I quote bellow: 

“When Diego and I were planning the encores for the concert, it really took very little time. We quickly decided, or realized might be more accurate, that there should be two… one by Jerry Goldsmith, one by John Williams. These are the two composers mores responsible than any for Diego and I meeting in the first place, not to mention the two most dominant names in film music – the world over – for some three decades! Jerry’s piece must be emotional and powerful. With so many options to fit that calling, one immediately came to mind as the correct choice… Camelot lives from The First Knight. When I wrote to Carol Goldsmith the morning after the concert, I told her it was the most impassioned and glorious live music I had ever seen or heard. Diego, the orchestra and the choir absolutely soared. It was thrilling beyond words…”

Last year’s Festival theme was Alex North’s original score for 2001, a space Odyssey. At the closing night gala I faced the challenge of conducting a four-movement suite, a selection of the master’s soundtrack. That was such an honor for me. I could share the stage with the extraordinary talented composer Joel McNeely, our guest conductor. This year we are privileged to have him back with us, he is already our main guest conductor. I really thank his generosity and kindness to conduct again the Tenerife Film Orchestra and Choir, Bravo Maestro! 

 

 

Fimucité 3 will pay tribute to the Alien complete saga. This year we celebrate Ridley Scott’s Alien 30th anniversary, such an acclaimed science fiction film. This musical celebration gathers all these Fox movies. The first part of our closing concert, planned for Saturday, July 25th 2009, at the Tenerife Auditorium, will be devoted to Alien and we will play the “Biomechanical Symphony”. Together with Varese Sarabande we have organized a selection of the very best of each of the saga composers: Goldsmith, Horner, Goldenthal, Frizzel, Tyler... It sure is going to be something special. 

Fimucité 3 will also remember Jerry Goldsmith; this year we are celebrating the great master’s 80th birthday. He has inspired generations of composers, including myself; therefore our festival considered that our very missed Maestro deserved a spectacular concert. Joel McNeely will conduct a wonderful selection of his best works at the Tenerife’s Auditorium. 

Fimucité 3 will be honored with the attendance of Oscar winner Jan Kaczmarek, Mark Snow and Clint Mansell. This year beautiful city of La Laguna, Unesco World Heritage Center, joins the Festival with its Teatro Leal, a recently restored historical theater. We also offer a season of films presented by Filmoteca Canaria. We will enjoy a fascinating week with Goldsmith soundtracks in movies like Papillon, The Other, Freud, The ballad of Cable Hogue, Capricorn 1 or Chinatown among others. Another spectacular institution that also joins the Festival for the first time is the TEA Museum (Tenerife Space for the Arts) where we will organize the composers’ panels and screen the Alien saga, a great chance to watch again such a blockbuster. 

For this edition we have accomplished a very interesting element: the Fimucité Channel in Vimeo. Every year all concerts are recorded and filmed live. After the Festival we commit ourselves to the mixing of the music and the videos and upload them in Internet. By doing so, we can share with everybody a lot of material. Enjoy the Fimucité experience at:

www.vimeo.com/fimucite 

Last year we started an initiative that was really appreciated, we invited our conservatoire students and future professionals, conducted by their director Jose Luis Cebolla, to give an unforgettable concert at the Guimerá Theater. The “Banda Sinfónica del Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Santa Cruz de Tenerife” got an incredible standing ovation. This year we will continue our commitment to our future musicians and our local talents organizing a spectacular concert, based on science fiction film music. This Festival pre-opening concert will take place July the 2nd. 

On the other hand, Fimucité 3 will release a new book about the Alien saga music edited in collaboration with Filmoteca Canaria.  

We would also like to thank our friend prestigious comic artist Azpiri who generously designed our beautiful poster.  

Thank you all for your passionate support along these past editions, thanks for the great moments that have changed our lives. You all are invited to enjoy again our spectacular Festival! 

Welcome to our special “Nostromo”, welcome to Fimucité 3.

 

Diego Navarro
Composer
Director of FIMUCITÉ