euskalkultura.eus

Santiago, Chile.  The Gure Etorkia cultural association in Chile has converted Aberri Eguna into one of its essential activities and every year, more and more friends and euskaltzales in Chile sign up for the climb and the festivities on San Cristobal hill.  This year, the delegate of Euskadi, Rafael Kutz, was also in attendance; the president of the Basque Collectivity in Chile, Rosana Arza; and more people, including another twenty Basque university students who are studying in the city. 

The event at the Eusko Enparantza at the top started with mass that included the participation of the mixed-voice choir of the Basque Collectivity in Chile, as told to EuskalKultura.com by one of the organizers, Raimundo Riquelme Zubelzu.  The choir was directed by soprano Soraya Carvajal and they sang pieces such as Iñigo Ereserkia, Damu Otoitza, Ogi Zerutik and Agur Maria.  At the end of mass, an Aurresku was performed in honor of the new delegate of the Basque Government to Chile and Peru.

Txistulari performance

Following, the group of dancers and txistularis Hilario Olazaran performed.  “It was a pleasant surprise to see the group of six young txistularis, directed by Angel “Gotzon” Espinoza, who interpreted Fandangos and Kalejiras with great ease; an old dream made reality,” Riquelme commented.  “We also want to emphasize the attendance of twenty young Basques that are studying at universities in Chile and who joined in on the dancing with irrintzis brought from our beloved Basque Country.”

[Basque dance on San Cristobal Hill (photo RRiquelme)]

[Young txistularis directed by Angel “Gotzon” Espinoza showed their great talent (photo RRiquelme)]

Finally, and according to Riquelme, Rossana Arza, president of the euskal etxea Basque Collectivity of Chile, “was grateful for the invitation to the event and promised to attend next year as well.”

Gure Etorkia posted this video of the day: