The Vatican organist, Gianluca Libertucci, plays once more at the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación

The concert commemorates the 24th anniversary of the death of José Luque Manzano

The Marbella Friends of the Sol Mayor Organ Association and the El Fuerte Foundation have organised a concert to be given by the Zamoran organist Juan María Pedrero, for Friday 9th May at the Church of Nuestra Señora de La Encarnación, Marbella (Malaga). The concert commemorates one hundred years since the birth of the priestand advocate of the Sol Mayor Organ, Rodrigo Bocanegra.

The Friends of the Sol Mayor Organ Association, Marbella, and the Fuerte Foundation have organised a concert to be given by the organist Gianluca Libertucci on 13th June at 21.00 in the Church of Nuestra Señora de La Encarnación in Marbella. The concert commemorates the 24th anniversary of the death of José Luque Manzano, founder of Hotel El Fuerte and promoter of the Costa del Sol.

Libertucci is the organist at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the ‘Sistine’ Papal Musical Chapel and the Chapel of Saint Martin and Saint Sebastian of the Papal Swiss Guard. He is also head organist at the Church of Santa María del Huerto in Trastevere, Rome, and, since 2001, he has held the Chair of ‘Organ and Organ Composition’ at the State Music Conservatory ‘Agostino Steffani’ in Castelfranco Veneto, Treviso. He has worked non-stop at the most significant international destinations with regard to the organ, and gave the inaugural concert for the new organ at the Government Chapel at the Vatican City, before Pope Benedict XVI.

The Vatican organist played on 21st December at a concert organised by the Friends of the Sol Mayor Organ Association, Marbella, to mark the close of Grupo El Fuerte’s 50th anniversary events.

The aim of the Association in organising these concerts is to study the historical, technical and artistic merits of the Sol Mayor Organ, and to collaborate in restoring, preserving and improving the instrument. The Association is committed to promoting musical culture through a periodic programme, which includes concerts, talks and other scholastic events related to the Sol Mayor Organ. The Association now boasts 33 members, paying an annual minimum of 80€ to take part in the cultural activities.

The Fuerte Foundation, which sponsors these events, took over the restoration of the organ in the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación de Marbella in 2006 and entrusted the organ specialist Albert Blancafort with restoring the organ’s characteristic sounds, diminished somewhat with the passage of time. Since restoring, repairing, improving and lavishing attention on the organ as part of the Hotel El Fuerte de Marbella’s 50th anniversary events, the Foundation has been committed to promoting the musical culture surrounding the Sol Mayor Organ, in particular for young listeners and those who know nothing about the instrument.

The Fuerte Foundation, the brainchild of Isabel M. García Bardón, who has been backed by her children and Fuerte Hoteles staff, was set up to channel the Company’s wish to work towards solving social problems in its surroundings.

The Foundation pays special attention to those at risk or suffering from physical or cultural deprivation, whether in Spain or in any country deemed necessary by the Board, with preference given to those countries in which Fuerte Hoteles has a presence. This mission has been accomplished with the help of projects that really do improve living conditions: education, housing and development.