The Diplomat
The Ambassador of Slovakia in Madrid, Juraj Tomaga, celebrated last Saturday in Madrid the 30th anniversary of the independence of his country and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Spain.
The event, held in the Duque de Pastrana Auditorium, consisted of a reception and a concert given by the Katarina Gurska Foundation, performed by the Orquesta Sinfónica del Real Sitio de San Idelfonso.
Juraj Tomaga, who recalled his stay in our country between 2006 and 2010, stressed that Slovakia is today in the European Union, sharing with Spain the same currency, the same border and membership of the Atlantic Alliance.
After pointing out that 12,000 Slovaks live in Spain, some as Erasmus students and in cities such as Malaga and Tenerife, he said that the most important of this Slovakian colony is Katarina Gurska, who has been in our country for 42 years and of whom he stressed that “she is not only a pianist and very well known, but also a businesswoman and philanthropist”. “Students from all over (Croatia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Austria, Israel, United States, Canada, Spain, Slovakia…) have passed through her hands. She has done so much to link our two nations in the world of music and in the future,” he said.
Katarina Gurska thanked the ambassador for his words and expressed her satisfaction that musicians from 80 countries have passed through her schools.
The reception was attended by numerous ambassadors, such as those of Portugal, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus and Nicaragua, and representatives of Spanish society, including the rector of the University of Valladolid, Antonio Largo Cabrerizo.
The Orquesta Sinfónica del Real Sitio, conducted by Rui Pinheiro, performed works by Breiner, Rossini, Ravel and Beethoven, with performances by Javier Zamora, clarinet, and María Asensi, violin.
