Concert for Chilean Artist Violeta Parra

On Saturday, I joined two English professors from my husband’s university at a concert in honour of the Chilean singer, artist, songwriter and legend Violeta Parra. She’s best known for composing the worldwide hit song Gracias a la Vida, (which has been since covered by many artists throughout the world, including Michael Buble).

The concert was performed by an ensemble of Chile’s top pop, rock and hip-hop artists, a symphony orchestra and guitarists (on acoustic, cuatro and the unique ukelele-like charango) under the stars and amidst the spectacular backdrop of the Huanchaca ruins, remnants of an old metal refinery built in 1888.

The concert was presented by Escondida mine as a gift to the city and was free (!) to all who picked up tickets about a week ago.

It was easily one of the most thoughtful concerts I have seen, incorporating Violeta’s hauntingly beautiful music and the talents of contemporary artists. It blended the old – a full symphony orchestra – with the new – electric guitars.

Violeta’s music is distinct, incorporating traditional Chilean instruments, haunting melodies and soulful lyrics. Violeta was an innovative artist and songwriter in the 1950s and 1960s and credited for creating the “nueva canción chilena,” a reinvention of Chilean folk music. Much of her music revolved around the desire to preserve and share traditional Chilean music, incorporating it into her work.

She was not “just” a musician: she was a talented painter and the first Latin American artist invited to exhibit at the Louvre. She founded several cultural centers where musicians and artists could get together. In many ways, her interdisciplinary focus was ahead of her time.

What struck me on Saturday night was the sheer popularity of this concert by all ages. Of course it had some famous contemporary Chilean artists to draw the crowds, but much of the music was well known by the audience. I was struck by the attraction that her music held to so many people in the city. She is truly a part of Chile’s heritage and her legacy is kept alive by beautiful tributes such as this.

One of the younger singers who was at the concert, Francisca Valenzuela, has recently covered one of Violeta’s songs, Run Run. This isn’t a video from the Saturday night concert.

The concert reminded me of what is important about travel: learning about things that you would not have otherwise known. The richest cultural experiences do not come from glamorous museums, tour busses or fancy restaurants. They come from glimpses, like this lovely concert, into what the people love and appreciate about their country.