A research, knowledge transfer and innovation project has been developed within the framework of the course titled “Sectors in the Creative Industries” in the Master’s Degree program for Communication and Creative Industries (Comincrea) at the University of Alicante. The initiative draws from the UA Headquarters in Torrevieja and centers on a musical, historical, and documentary exploration of the Torrevieja International Habaneras and Polyphonics Competition (CIHPT). This year marks the 70th anniversary of the event, which has been recognized for its international tourist appeal and cultural significance.
The project unveils its core outcomes through an exhibition called “Among the Tattooed Waves.” The exhibit is scheduled to open on a Friday at 19:00 in the Vista Exhibition Hall. Attendance requires pre-registration and the capacity is limited. The venue is located at Alegre de Torrevieja, Paseo Vista Alegre, 10, inviting visitors to a curated encounter with Habana-era artistry and its modern interpretations.
During the opening, attendees can experience a recital of classical habaneras accompanied by a commemorative tribute to maestro Ricardo Lafuente Aguado. The performance features soprano Nuria Maddaloni, soprano Concepción Pérez Boj, mezzo-soprano Cora Sánchez Boj, tenor Francisco Moreno, and pianist Jorge Carrasco Juárez, delivering a program that honors tradition while showcasing living interpretation of the genre.
Purpose, exposure and composition
The central aim of the project is to recover and broadcast the cultural wealth associated with Havana’s habanera tradition and to present it to younger generations. The historical currents of passion, nostalgia, and heritage have long influenced and been influenced by other musical forms. Torrevieja serves as a distinctive setting where this musical genre has become a symbol of local cultural identity that demands ongoing preservation and renewal.
The exhibition tour offers a comprehensive look at the competition’s history, the habanera as a musical category, and the critical role of choirs in artistic development. It also features CIHPT posters and the premiere of two contemporary habaneras composed specifically for the project. The display weaves together a diverse array of objects, documents, and sound recordings that illuminate the living trajectory of this music.
The project leadership was under principal investigator Jesús Segarra-Saavedra, with musical direction provided by Jorge Carrasco Juárez, a piano professor at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Victoria Eugenia in Granada. The team included instructors from the Comincrea subject area and students who contributed to the research, composition, and documentation process. Notable participants included Enric Mira-Pastor, Vicente García-Escrivá, Christian Fortanet-Van-Assendelft-de-Coningh, Claudia Ripoll-Martínez, and students such as Kevin Desbrueres, Ángela Escolano Gálvez, Estela González Barrachina, Wissam Khodja, Zoé Le Garrec, Yuxin Li, Jeanne Morales, Yoleidys Moreno Torregroza, Rigoberto Otaño Milian, Jimena Párez Bazzano, María Rodríguez Lozano, Bruna Scaratti Selau, and Jessica del Pilar Soler Herrera. The course instructor for “Strategic Planning of Communication in the Creative Industries,” Inés Leal-Rico, also contributed to the project.
Partnership
The initiative benefits from the support of the University of Alicante’s Torrevieja Headquarters, the Comincrea Master’s program, and the broader university system. Local government and cultural bodies play an essential role, including the City Council of Torrevieja, the Municipal Board of Habaneras in Torrevieja, the Municipal Archive of Torrevieja, and the Habaneras shopping center. Additional collaborators include the UA Faculty of Science, the Department of Economics and Business Studies, the Department of Communication and Social Psychology, IES Mediterráneo in Torrevieja, the historian Francisco Sala Aniorte, IES Las Lagunas, Aceitunas Torremar, and Universo Ferris wines. Through these partnerships, the project coordinates a wide network of institutions to preserve and celebrate habanera heritage while fostering contemporary creative inquiry.