The Diplomat. Photos: JDL.
In gardens full of yellow butterflies, the Colombian Embassy commemorated last Wednesday the 40th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Literature awarded to Gabriel García Márquez, who in December 1982 brought to Stockholm the colour and joy of the Macondo described in 100 Years of Solitude.
During the event, several passages selected by Dasso Saldivar, a scholar of the life and work of the Colombian writer, were read out. In addition, musical pieces were performed by the Camerata Colombiana de Madrid under the direction of Rubén Darío Reina and with the support of Juan Mendoza, artistic director of the Escuela de Música Reina Sofía.
After welcoming the attendees, the Colombian Ambassador, Luis Guillermo Plata, said that “there is no better way to celebrate this event than to read again 100 years of solitude in the voices of renowned Spaniards and Colombians who represent the highest common culture”.
The many people attending the event were able to enjoy seven passages from Gabriel García Márquez’s book in the voices of Santiago Muñoz Machado, director of the Royal Academy of Language (RAE); Trinidad Jiménez, former Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Esteban Manrique, director of the Royal Botanical Garden; Carmen Iglesias Cano, director of the Royal Academy of History; Enrique Ojeda Vila, director of Casa de América; Ángeles González-Sinde, president of the Board of Trustees of the Museo Reina Sofía, and Julio Sánchez Cristo, director of W Radio.
The commemoration ended brilliantly with a musical performance of the piece Colombia tierra querida, by Lucho Bermúdez, which was sung and applauded by the many Colombian citizens attending the commemoration.
