The Menorcan Opera Foundation has received the honorary award at the 8th edition of the Ópera XXI Awards , the leading awards in Spain’s opera sector.
The regional secretary for Culture and Sports, Pedro Vidal, attended the awards ceremony this Friday at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona on behalf of the regional government.
According to a statement from the Regional Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, this honorary distinction recognizes the Foundation’s track record and historic contribution to the promotion of opera, an award that places Menorca and the Balearic Islands on the national map of musical excellence.
The award also coincides with the celebration of the 55th Maó Opera Season, one of the longest-running and most established in all of Spain, which is based at the Teatre Principal de Maó, Spain’s oldest opera house.
Vidal emphasized that this award “is a well-deserved recognition of decades of continuous work in support of culture and audience development in Menorca.” In this regard, he noted that the regional government granted a direct subsidy of 51,840 euros a few weeks ago to cover the artistic expenses of this 55th Season.
This funding makes it possible to finance major events such as the performance of Verdi’s *Un ballo in maschera* (scheduled for late May) and various outreach activities such as *Ópera en la calle* or the *Ópera prima* and *Ópera gran* programs, which bring opera to students and day centers across the island.
The Ópera XXI association brings together Spain’s leading theaters and festivals, such as the Teatro Real, the Liceu itself, and the ABAO Bilbao.
“The Government will continue to promote this model, which combines artistic excellence with the preservation of our cultural identity,” concluded Vidal, who, on behalf of the Executive, congratulated all the professionals and enthusiasts who made it possible for the Maó opera to become a national benchmark last night.