Ministry of Culture of Panama Hosts Eighty Events to Celebrate Christmas
The Ministry of Culture (MiCultura) brings art and recreation in the month of December with more than 80 activities and shows. Families are invited to enjoy the talent of Panamanian artists for free with presentations by the National Symphony Orchestra, the National Ballet, the Network of Orchestras and Choirs, Gira identidad, and Vive el Casco.
Parks, parishes, shopping centers will be filled with artistic performances as part of a packed December agenda. The program begins with the Network of Youth Orchestras and Choirs of Panama, which will deliver more than 45 concerts nationwide.
The Christmas program launched on December 1 with a Coral program at Parque Andrés Bello on Vía Argentina. Their shows will conclude on January 6, 2023.
Red de Coros Juveniles de Panamá
Around 40 concerts will be held during the Christmas season, in which the musical talents of more than 5,000 children that make up “La Red” will be appreciated through special programs including the Children’s Orchestra, the Youth Orchestra and the choir, reported the Ministry of Culture.
The Coro Metropolitano de la Red de Coros y Orquestas juveniles de Panamá began the celebration with traditional Christmas carols such as “Vamos al Portal,” “Silent Night” and “To the World,” which included lighting the tree in Parque Andrés Bello. The event was organized by the Bella Vista Community Board.
This six-year-old program, which is supported by the United Nations Program (UNDP), has transformed the lives of thousands of children and young people.
Meanwhile, the National Symphony Orchestra (OSN) under the direction of Jorge Ledezma Bradley and Ricardo Risco, joined by soloists and artists, prepared a repertoire with presentations on different stages, and an upcoming one on December 22 in the Cathedral of Columbus.
The orchestra began its Christmas concert season with joyful Christmas carols the Metro Bank Calle 50. Under the direction of Maestro Jorge Ledezma Bradley and in the company of soloists Elvia Vergara and Rodolfo Hernández, the Música Viva choir and the La Merced Parish Choir, the performers delighted guests with favorite Christmas songs in this first concert.
“Thank you all for being with us and supporting the work we do every day to deepen the knowledge of symphonic music for all citizens, especially at this time because Christmas music has an emotional charge and a focus of brotherhood and solidarity inspired by giving instead of receiving. In the end, we enjoy it ourselves, and the people enjoy it as well,” said Jorge Ledezma Bradley, director of the Orchestra.
¡Representando una mezcla de ballet, drama y música en esta Navidad! Disfrutamos de la gran puesta en escena de “Don Quijote” por el Ballet Nacional en el @TeatroNalPanama.
Última función hoy.
Apertura de puertas: 7:00 p.m.
Cierre de puertas: 8:00 p.m. pic.twitter.com/8QOIHMajTZ— Ministerio de Cultura (@MiCulturaPma) December 10, 2022
The National Ballet of Panama also celebrated Christmas with performances at the National Theater on December 8, 9 and 10 with the masterful staging of the classic Don Quixote, which included a great cast of 45 dancers.
“This year has been very important for the National Ballet. We celebrate 50 years in which we have had masterful performances and where the response of the public to the National Ballet has been very satisfactory, and proof of this is that in less than three hours the free tickets were sold out,”
Gloria Barrios, Executive Director of the Ballet Nacional
From the Cathedral Basilica Santa María La Antigua in Panama, the audience was delighted with a Christmas repertoire by the National Symphony Orchestra. On December 13th audiences enjoyed the presentation of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Parque Omar, Panama.
Desde la Catedral Basílica Santa María La Antigua de Panamá, el público asistente se deleitó con un repertorio navideño con el concierto de la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional. Hoy 13 de dic. podrás disfrutar de la presentación de la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional en el @ParqueOmarPma. pic.twitter.com/e1suu24XbH
— Ministerio de Cultura (@MiCulturaPma) December 13, 2022
The Plaza de la Independencia in the Casco Antiguo of Panama City welcomed visitors to a live Christmas presentation. The show included artistic events, cultural activities, cartoons and the Craft Market. The Ministry of Culture invited everyone to the Casco Antiguo of Panama City to enjoy the different historical sites decorated for the Christmas season.
¡Vive la Navidad en Casco Antiguo! Acompáñanos en la Plaza de la Independencia en el Casco Antiguo de la ciudad de Panamá, donde podrás disfrutar de presentaciones artísticas, actividades culturales, caricaturas y del Mercado Artesanal. #SomosCulturaPanamá pic.twitter.com/qKny07VNV1
— Ministerio de Cultura (@MiCulturaPma) December 11, 2022
The celebrations included mimes, musicians, live orchestras, mariachis. On December 17th, “Los Beachers” will join the party along with artisans from the Mercadito Artesanal and Sabores del Barrio project.
¡Te esperamos en Casco Antiguo, este sábado 17! #SomosCulturaPanamá https://t.co/QetiQB8hlX
— Ministerio de Cultura (@MiCulturaPma) December 13, 2022
Regarding these activities, Fernando Díaz Jaramillo, director of the Casco Antiguo Office said, “We are very happy to present a varied lineup of cultural events in our historic center geared towards family enjoyment. We have many surprises every weekend and a spectacular closing on the 17th with the Cultural Nights and on the 18th with a Christmas party.”
Alcaldía de Panamá
The Directorate of Culture of the Mayor’s Office of Panama has designed a different way to celebrate Christmas this year. This is the program, “Give a Book this Christmas: A Different Gift” whose objective is to promote reading, the love of books and, incidentally, culture.
View this post on Instagram
The “Give a Book this Christmas: A Different Gift”program launched Monday, December 12 and is running through Friday, December 16. It consists of the Sale and Exhibition of Books on the ground floor of the Hatillo Building of the Panama City Hall from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, with the participation of the Panamanian Book Chamber, the Ocean Group and is part of the MUPA Lee Write 2022 Program.
To find out about the activities and places where the presentations will take place, check out the cultural agenda on @miculturapma.
Soledad Quartucci | Latina Republic
Dr. Soledad Quartucci is the founder and CEO of Latina Republic, a 501(C)3 California-based nonprofit organization. Latina Republic is committed to improving the diversity and professional development of storytellers in the media industry as representation matters and affects the stories we tell. Latina Republic makes space for and empowers unheard voices and trains the next generation of leaders in the U.S.
