Oviedo has awakened to the melody of a piano, specifically eight pianos. The initiative «Oviedo se llena de pianos» by Fundación Occident, GCO (Grupo Catalana Occidente), and the International Maria Canals Competition, in collaboration with the Municipal Culture Foundation, has invited hundreds of people to sit in front of the pianos, including the Mayor, Alfredo Canteli, and the Culture Councillor, David Álvarez.
The Mayor expressed being «delighted and moved» by this initiative. «Oviedo is a city of cultural excellence and will hopefully become the European Capital of Culture, and this is further proof that we are on the right path.»
Canteli thanked the «Occident Foundation for remembering Oviedo… I hope they repeat it in the following years.» Regarding Oviedo’s candidacy for European Capital of Culture 2031, he stated that it would be a «very important milestone, not only for Oviedo but for all of Asturias. We are working together with all the municipalities of Asturias towards this goal.
«Bringing this initiative to Oviedo for the first time is very important to us, as it is a city closely related to culture and music, and we believe it will allow us to enjoy great and unexpected moments. With this activity, we want to make the piano universal, not seen as an unattainable instrument that can only be played in large auditoriums,» stated the director of Fundación Occident, Ignacio Gallardo-Bravo. This action, he emphasized, «also shows that new generations are present, in fact, in addition to young people, many schoolchildren are passing through the different pianos today… we do not know if the next Chopin will come from Oviedo.»
The 8 pianos can still be played until 8:00 PM, in front of the Teatro Campoamor, on Paseo de los Álamos, at the Kiosco del Bombé, on Calle Nueve de Mayo, at La Losa, at La Corrada del Obispo, in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, and in the Plaza de Porlier.
