The Colonial Zone’s Spanish Plaza Will be Home to a Diverse Cultural Program During 22nd International Book Fair 2019

Santo Domingo, April 11, 2019 – During Santo Domingo’s 22nd International Book Fair 2019, sponsored by the Dominican Ministry of Culture, organizers have put together an ample and very diverse artistic program that will take place in the Colonial Zone’s iconic Spanish Plaza.

Fair director Ruth Herrera announced that during the nine-day event – scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 5 – some 16 national and international groups will perform at the stage that will be set up in the very heart of the Plaza.

Herrera explained that Minister of Culture architect Eduardo Selman has shown keen interest in that this year’s book fair also feature an ample artistic program, that will include various cultural expressions such as music, theatre and dance from other nations.

This year the annual book fair will take place in Santo Domingo’s historic Colonial Zone. The sector’s museums and plazas will be the venues where literary, poetry readings and special panels will take place. National and international intellectuals, as well as Dominican and Latin American writers will also participate in the fair.

Puerto Rico, the neighboring island, will be honored during this year’s cultural event. A large delegation of Puerto Rican writers will participate in the many literary and cultural events that have been scheduled to take place during the fair. Also, this year’s event will be dedicated to Dominican writer Virgilio Díaz Grullón, who will be posthumously honored at the Banreservas Cultural Center.

According to the information released by the Fair’s Organizing Committee, the artistic calendar includes a broad program of typical merengue music, Caribbean rhythms, jazz and classical music. The program is scheduled to begin Friday, April 26, with Yomaira de León and her orchestra at 8:00 p.m. All concerts and special performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

On Saturday, April 27, the National Drama Directorate will present the play Malabar. The musical group Tuna, from the University of Puerto Rico, will also perform and on Sunday, April 28, at the same hour, the Grupo Suárez will provide the attending audience a lively concert.

On Monday, April 29, the audience will enjoy the rhythms of the Dominican Grupo Maniel, known for their ample repertoire of Caribbean rhythms.
On Tuesday, April 30, the musical spectacle Música de mi tierra (Music of my Homeland) will be performed by members of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo.

May Program

On Wednesday, May 1, the Autonomous University’s musical group Rondalla Universitaria, followed by the Ministry of Tourism Ballet.

On Thursday, May 2, starting at 7:00 p.m., the play En tiempo de mangos verdes (In the Times of Green Mangos, unofficial translation), will be presented by the Teatro Utopía from Santiago, the country’s second largest city. At 9:00 p.m., the musical group La Plena from Puerto Rico will bring their very particular sound to the stage.

On Friday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m., the musical band from the Free Schools of Colombia and the Autonomous University Choir will perform Alma Caribe (Caribbean Soul). The University’s Dance Troupe will follow with a Caribbean dance program.

On that same day the Autonomous University Choir will perform Alma Dominicana (Dominican Soul), beginning at 8:00 p.m.

On Saturday, May 4, Dominican jazz great Pengbian Sang will perform with his band his Retro Jazz concert.

The artistic agenda will conclude on Sunday, May 5, with the presentation of the Dominican Grupo Boyé.