Book Fair 2015 Will Be Dedicated to Dominican Intellectual Manuel Rueda

Book Fair 2015 Will Be Dedicated to Dominican Intellectual Manuel Rueda
Santo Domingo, March 16th, 2015

The 18th International Book Fair Santo Domingo 2015 (FILRD2015), to be held from April 23 to May 4 of this year, will be dedicated to poet, pianist, playwright and essayist Manuel Rueda, one of the most important figures in Dominican literature.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez, who was accompanied by Valentín Amaro, Director General of Books and Reading, and Pedro Antonio Valdez, Executive Director of the Book Fair. This year the event will have the Republic of Peru as the guest country.

Minister Rodríguez said that dedicating the FILRD2015 to Rueda is to honor one of the most cultivated Dominicans in the national arts; thus, it is with pride that this edition of the fair is being dedicated to him.

Meanwhile, Valentín Amaro and Pedro Antonio Valdez analyzed Rueda’s virtuosity in all art forms and they said that, to some extent, the Book Fair reflects what the late writer was, a variety of literary and artistic expressions in general.

The FILRD2015 will take place, as it has been customary, at Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte. Hundreds of editorial houses are expected to attend, as well as writers and intellectuals. There will be an artistic program that will include renowned national and international figures.

Rueda was a full member of the Dominican Academy of Language, Director of the cultural section Isla Abierta (Open Island) of the Hoy newspaper, and director of the National Conservatory of Music.

He participated in countless solo recitals, both with the National Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Puerto Rico orchestra. He performed in numerous concerts in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico and New York.

Together with Maestro Manuel Simó, he composed the First Quisqueyana Mass. Also, he collaborated with the Diocese of Santiago de los Caballeros in the creation of a Dominican Liturgical Songbook and played songs with lyrics by Gabriela Mistral.

Six times he won the Annual Literature Award, three for poetry, two for theater and one for narrative. Also, in 1994, he won the National Literature Award.

Among his literary works are: “Las noches” (1949 and 1953), “Tríptico” (1949), “La criatura terrestre” (1963) and “Vacaciones en el cielo”. His plays include: “La trinitaria blanca” (1957), “El Rey Clinejas” (1979) and “Relato de la Pasión y muerte de Juana la Loca” (“Tirso de Molina” Theater Award, 1995).

As a composer, his most important work is perhaps “El cancionero litúrgico dominicano” (Dominican liturgical songbook), which he composed in collaboration with the Diocese of Santiago de los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic.

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