The concerts take place on 25 and 26 May in the Symphony Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife

 

The Island Council of Tenerife is paying tribute to Elfidio Alonso, the founding member of Los Sabandeños, with two performances of the homage that extols his career. The historic Tenerife group will assemble at the Symphony Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife on 25 and 26 May at 7:30 p.m. with the show Elfidio. Un espectáculo de Los Sabandeños (Elfidio. A Show by Los Sabandeños).

The president of the Island Council, Rosa Dávila, highlighted the "well-deserved recognition and showcasing of the human and professional trajectory of Elfidio Alonso who, at present, aged 88, undeniably remains the great leade. He has been the flagship of Los Sabandeños, a group that, for almost 60 years continuously, has been one of the unquestionable benchmarks of Canarian folklore and culture. He is the great guardian of our traditions”. 

“Los Sabandeños is the most longstanding group in traditional Canarian music. This tribute concert at the Symphony Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife recreates everything from his childhood and youth in Punta del Hidalgo to his phase as founder and director of Los Sabandeños, along with his relationship with Canarian literary figures, his facets as a writer, journalist, composer, and his beloved city of La Laguna.  In all, a journey through his 88 years" notes Rosa Dávila.

The founder of Los Sabandeños, Elfidio Alonso, said "I intended to retire quietly without a fuss, but my colleagues and the current musical director didn't let me. I am very grateful. For me, it is an honour to extend my time in a group that we love so much, and which, very shortly, is going to celebrate its 60th anniversary in the music world. I welcome this tribute and the generosity of the Island Council of Tenerife”.  

The island minister of Culture and Museums of Tenerife, José Carlos Acha, stated that "Los Sabandeños simply had to play a part in the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Auditorio de Tenerife, along with Elfidio Alonso with his 88 years of experience, and the 60 continuous years of the musical trajectory of this great group. It is satisfying to be able to organise these two shows at the Auditorio de Tenerife”. 

The musical director of the group, Israel Espino, has stated that they aim to produce a show that is worthy of the intellectual and musical legacy of Elfidio Alonso. All the songs featured in the show were written by Alonso himself, and he has poured his heart and soul into them, leaving an indelible mark. Throughout the two-hour show, the audience will embark on a journey through Alonso's life.

The show which can be watched at the Auditorio de Tenerife recreates everything from his childhood and youth in Punta del Hidalgo to his phase as founder and director of Los Sabandeños, along with his relationship with Canarian literary figures, his facets as a writer, journalist, composer, and his beloved city of La Laguna. In all, an 88-year journey.

The playwriting and stage design of the show introduces the audience to the different life stages, represented by the actresses Carmen Hernández and Alicia Ramos, giving a voice and meaning to the narrative discourse, complemented with audiovisual materials from interviews with people who are closely linked to the culture, sport, literature, journalism, politics and music of the Canary Islands. Friends and family members will also talk about him.

The show, an immersive process in the biography of Elfidio Alonso, is performed by the 35 members of Los Sabandeños, accompanied by their technical sound and lighting staff and by two actresses.

Los Sabandeños get out of their comfort zone, take risks and experiment with new ways of reaching the audience. They break away from their normal aesthetic format to sing without microphone stands, in free space and supporting the narrative discourse that the piece offers.

Elfidio. Un espectáculo de Los Sabandeños was premiered on 8, 9 and 10 June 2023 at Teatro Leal de La Laguna. The second stop of the work was on 21 October at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

In addition to his status as a founder member and director of Los Sabandeños, he has a long career as a sportsman, journalist, poet, novelist, and advocate of Canarian culture. A graduate in Law and Journalism from the University of La Laguna, he was a regional representative and mayor of his city. 

Also, Elfidio Alonso, the writer of over three hundred songs, has created conceptual works such as La Misa Sabandeña, La Cantata del Mencey Loco, Las Seguidillas del Salinero and La rebelión de los Gomeros. This vision led the group to make forays into South American music and enabled it to penetrate the world of bolero and love songs with mastery, producing themed works such as the Cantos Canarios (Canarian songs) and the albums Canario y Personajes.

Los Sabandeños began their musical activity in 1965. Almost 60 years have passed -the anniversary is in 2025- since that group of friends from the University of La Laguna decided to officially become a group. They began their continuous work in music, embodied in over 95 albums, a sound archive that includes part of the traditional legacy as well as their songs and adaptations.

The tickets are available on the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com, at the auditorium's box office or by dialling the phone number 902 317 327 from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 02:00 p.m. Check the special discounts for the audience under 30 years of age, students, unemployed and large families.