SM l’Illa de Benidorm delivers a moving ‘Concert de Festes’ as part of Setmana Cultural de les FMP 2026
The band, conducted by Oswaldo Olmos, performed a programme of festive and popular music, featuring the world premiere of ‘Eugenia’, composed by Josep Cano
Rafael Doménech Pardo Auditorium at Benidorm Cultural Centre hosted the ‘Concert de Festes’ by Societat Musical l’Illa de Benidorm at midday today. The concert was part of the Setmana Cultural de les Festes Majors Patronals 2026 and was organised by the Culture and Fiestas departments in collaboration with the Comissió.
Before the performance began, the band paid tribute to Martina Buigues, one of its young members, who recently passed away. An empty music stand, without a score, and a chair adorned with white flowers took centre stage throughout the concert as a symbol of remembrance and in honour of her memory.
The band then began its performance under the direction of its conductor, Oswaldo Olmos, in front of an audience of nearly 400 people who filled the auditorium. Those in attendance included Councillors for Culture and Fiestas, Jaime Jesús Pérez and Mariló Cebreros, alongside other members of the municipal corporation; Comissió president Ramón Cano; the Queens of the FMP 2026, Laura Ivars and Carmen Guillem; and SM l’Illa representative Tolo Teuler.
The programme opened with ‘Pepita Greus’, by Pascual Pérez Choví, marking the centenary of its premiere. The band continued with ‘Festa Major’, by Josep Cano, and ‘Daniel Juan’, by José María Ferrero, in tribute to the composer’s birth centenary.
One of the concert’s highlights was the world premiere of ‘Eugenia’, by Josep Cano, which the composer himself conducted.
The programme continued with ‘Tom Jones in Concert’, arranged by Frank Bernaerts; ‘Tributo a Michael Jackson’, arranged by Josef Hastreiter; ‘Amor, amor, amor’, arranged by Azael Tormo; and ‘Superestrella’, by Aitana. The performance brought together festive and popular music from different styles and eras.
The Setmana Cultural de les FMP 2026 will continue tomorrow, Monday, with the presentation of the CD ‘Benidorm, música i celebració’, recorded by the Colla de Xirimiters de la Marina. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall’s assembly hall. Admission is free, subject to capacity.
