Poetry, music and Mediterranean magic « Euro Weekly News

Poetry, music and Mediterranean magic: Ithaca Foundation celebrates 15 years of Poetic Evening Concerts in Altea

Every August, as the sun begins to soften and the Mediterranean evening air takes on a golden hue, a unique celebration of music and poetry comes to life in the coastal town of Altea. Now in its fifteenth year, the Poetic Evening Concerts, organised by the cultural foundation ITHACA, return to one of the most beautiful corners of the Mediterranean for three Sundays of musical brilliance, poetic reflection and warm, shared moments over drinks and aperitifs.

Founded by the Flemish-born, Altea-based poet Germain Droogenbroodt, the series blends high-calibre classical music with multilingual poetry recitals and a convivial, international atmosphere. As in previous editions, the concerts will take place on the first three Sundays of August, bringing together virtuoso musicians from Spain and around the world in a setting that fuses nature, art and human connection.

The 2025 programme opens with an evening that promises to enchant music lovers. Valencian guitarist Vicent Ballester, known for his refined technique and expressive interpretations, will take the stage alongside the Costa Blanca Quartet. This ensemble, composed of world-class Russian musicians residing in the region, brings a rich performance pedigree, having played with the Klassische Philharmonie in Bonn, and graced opera houses in Cologne, Aachen and even as far as South Korea. Today, they form part of the Alicante-based ADDA Symphony Orchestra, adding an international flair to the local music scene.

Ppoetry in six languages

But music is only part of the evening’s alchemy. Between performances, Germain Droogenbroodt will recite selections of his poetry in five or six languages, honouring the diversity of an audience drawn from across Europe and beyond. “Poetry transcends borders,” says Droogenbroodt, who has made it his life’s work to bridge cultures through verse.

Indeed, few poets embody the international spirit of literature quite like him. Born in Rollegem, Belgium, in 1944, Droogenbroodt moved to Altea in 1987 and quickly became an integral part of Spain’s literary life. Over his long career, he has published seventeen poetry collections, translated more than thirty books of poetry into Dutch from languages as varied as Arabic, Japanese, Persian and Spanish, and seen his own work published in 31 countries. In 2017, he was even recommended for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

His poetry spans themes of nature, love, memory and philosophical inquiry, often rooted in Eastern spiritual traditions. From the love poems of Palpable Absence to the meditative cycles of In the Stream of Time: Meditations in the Himalayas, his voice resonates with what Icelandic poet Thór Stefánsson has described as “prophetic, philosophical poetry”. His collaborations have crossed continents, including visual artists such as Satish Gupta in India and musicians in Europe and Asia.

Cultural organiser

Beyond the written word, Droogenbroodt has also been an active cultural organiser. Through POINT Editions, the publishing house he founded in Belgium, he has published over eighty volumes of modern international poetry. He is also co-founder of JUNPA (Japan Universal Poets Association) and adviser to several cultural bodies in China and Spain. With the ITHACA foundation, he has helped turn Altea into a small but vibrant node in the global network of poetic exchange.

The Poetic Evening Concerts reflect this spirit perfectly: an invitation not only to listen, but to feel, to connect, and to share in beauty. After the music and readings, guests are invited to stay for aperitifs and drinks, a gesture that turns each concert into an evening of conversation and camaraderie beneath the Mediterranean sky.

For long-time attendees and first-time visitors alike, these evenings offer a rare blend of cultural depth and intimate atmosphere—something timeless in a fast-moving world. As ITHACA celebrates fifteen years of this beloved tradition, the message is simple: poetry and music are still powerful bridges between hearts and nations.

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