More Bach than Britney – Tenerife’s Cultural Face

I’m aware that it might seem that much of ‘Tenerife Matters’ seems to include information about shows and exhibitions which are maybe a bit more on the cultured side than many visitors to Tenerife might be looking for. It’s not a deliberate approach; it’s simply because many of the official websites that we use for information are desperately trying to promote an image that is light years away from the ‘karaoke and kebab’ image that has dogged the island. Take the blurb for the 25th Canary Islands Music Festival for instance.

“The (second) goal is to heighten the international profile of the Canary Islands through something other than the cliché of sunshine and beaches for which the islands are so often known. This in turn brings us to the third goal, which is to attract more cultural tourism to the islands.”

So if you happen to be a more cultured visitor, then welcome to the Tenerife that the newspapers don’t tell you about and you’re just in time for this festival which includes performances by classical musicians from all over the world.

Dates: 9th January to 14th February 2009
Venues: Auditorio de Tenerife and the Teatro Guimerá in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Programme: Click here for full details