Does Bardin House feel familiar to you? The Alicante Cultural Institute stands as the motto used by Juan Gil-Albert to celebrate International Music Day on November 22. Students from the Óscar Esplá Higher Conservatory of Music were tasked with giving micro concerts to local artists in the mornings, with longer performances filling the afternoons inside the cultural center’s headquarters hall.
Poetry with Mariano Sánchez and Francesc Pastor at Gil-Albert
Musical styles flowed from classical to contemporary pop, even embracing urban sounds. As performances began to carry their melodies into the streets from the early hours, passersby near the historic building were drawn into the rhythm. The venue serves as the headquarters of the cultural center housed at San Fernando 44.
The Cultural Deputy, Juan de Dios Navarro, travelled to Bardin House to take part in this memorial moment, observing chamber groups and soloists from the Óscar Esplá Superior Conservatory of Music during auditions. Performers presented works across varied styles and composers, including Vivaldi, Bach, Chopin, Debussy, and Paquito D Rivera, highlighting a broad spectrum of musical heritage.
Cristina Martínez, IAC’s new cultural director, explains that the initiative’s core aim is to bring Casa Bardin closer to the public and help citizens understand the Institute’s roles and activities more clearly. The program emphasizes accessibility and inclusivity, offering a strong monthly lineup that appeals to diverse audiences and spans multiple disciplines.
Throughout the morning, audiences enjoyed a rich music program featuring a tuba and piano duo of Moisés Manzanaro and Clara Martínez. A quartet—Aurora Fernández, Esther Galambos, Aitana Fernández, and Adis Galán—performed, followed by a brass quintet comprising Carlos Martínez, Pablo Cano, Iván Esparcia, Pablo Vidal, and Diego Enrique. Pianist Abel Gómez appeared solo and with soprano Lisabel Huerta, delivering a varied concert experience.
In the afternoon, IAC Juan Gil-Albert reopened its doors at 17:30 for a session with urban artists. The lineup included Manyacaes and Agus Milan, singer Inés Domínguez, and guitarists Dani Miralles and Antonio Valero, who contributed to a lively and inclusive cultural dialogue for the community.