After the Concert (El Correo Digital)
January/09/2006
Music around the Dinner Table
More than 200 people attended the Biotz Alai Members’ Dinner
There isn’t a meeting, lunch or dinner that takes place without the presence of half a dozen amateur photographers, digital cameras at the ready, determined to make their friends pose in order to immortalize them on film. Worst of all, those being photographed are always forced to say, “Cheese!” During the dinner organised by the Biotz Alai for its members at the Igeretxe Hotel, there were more paparazzi than at the average tabloid celebrity bash. Toño Crespo, the usual photographer at such events, faced tough competition. What’s more, those present posed like authentic professionals from the pages of glossy magazines.
It was a very enjoyable evening. There was singing before the start of the dinner, between one course and the next, and after the meal had finished. Before arriving at the restaurant the choristers had had the chance to demonstrate their talents during a concert they performed- for the 34th year- at the Getxo Antzokia. During the two hour concert they revisited their entire discography, including their most recently released CD, “Abertzaleen Euskadi Abestaldia,” which was recorded in Paris in 1976. The concert ended with a tribute to the Zubizarreta brothers- Agustín, Txomin, Ángel and, the only surviving brother, Josan- for their membership of the choir. Relatives of the brothers were present to receive the tribute: Cristina Sarría, Juanita Olabarria, Itziar and Juana Zubizarreta.
Present at the dinner were the mayor of Getxo, Iñaki Zarraoa, and his wife, Arantza Garmendia, Iñaki Albizu, parish priest of San Nicolás de Bari; Txema Batarrita, president of the choir; Mario Porset, vice-president, and his wife, Ameli Llantada; Javier Oyarzabal, an excellent director, and his wife, Mercedes Salaverri; Patxi García, Agustín de Velasco; Gorka García Erauskin and Juan Manuel Sáez.
More than 200 people attended the Biotz Alai Members’ Dinner
There isn’t a meeting, lunch or dinner that takes place without the presence of half a dozen amateur photographers, digital cameras at the ready, determined to make their friends pose in order to immortalize them on film. Worst of all, those being photographed are always forced to say, “Cheese!” During the dinner organised by the Biotz Alai for its members at the Igeretxe Hotel, there were more paparazzi than at the average tabloid celebrity bash. Toño Crespo, the usual photographer at such events, faced tough competition. What’s more, those present posed like authentic professionals from the pages of glossy magazines.
It was a very enjoyable evening. There was singing before the start of the dinner, between one course and the next, and after the meal had finished. Before arriving at the restaurant the choristers had had the chance to demonstrate their talents during a concert they performed- for the 34th year- at the Getxo Antzokia. During the two hour concert they revisited their entire discography, including their most recently released CD, “Abertzaleen Euskadi Abestaldia,” which was recorded in Paris in 1976. The concert ended with a tribute to the Zubizarreta brothers- Agustín, Txomin, Ángel and, the only surviving brother, Josan- for their membership of the choir. Relatives of the brothers were present to receive the tribute: Cristina Sarría, Juanita Olabarria, Itziar and Juana Zubizarreta.
Present at the dinner were the mayor of Getxo, Iñaki Zarraoa, and his wife, Arantza Garmendia, Iñaki Albizu, parish priest of San Nicolás de Bari; Txema Batarrita, president of the choir; Mario Porset, vice-president, and his wife, Ameli Llantada; Javier Oyarzabal, an excellent director, and his wife, Mercedes Salaverri; Patxi García, Agustín de Velasco; Gorka García Erauskin and Juan Manuel Sáez.