Canarian Weekly
10-04-2015, 11:50
AROUND 10,000 people attended Adeje’s magnificent staging of The Passion last Friday on the Calle Grande. And the colourful, though tragic, annual event was also broadcast live on Canaries TV España.
Viewers were also able follow the event via online streaming, or listen on Radio Sur Adeje 107.9fm or Radio Nacional España.
More than 300 people took part, the majority of them Adeje residents, who were transformed into the many followers of Jesus of Nazareth during the last days of his life.
The staging of 2015′s The Passion was overseen, as always, by Adeje’s Department of Culture, under Councillor Nayra Medina Bethencourt and Laura Marrero, the Department’s Artistic Director.
Adeje Mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, who also took part in the event, congratulated the enormous cast and crew afterwards.
“Without you this would not happen, there would be no Passion Play in Adeje,” he told them. “We are not just showing the world another side of Adeje, the tourist destination, We are showing a people who love and treasure their traditions, and a people who are capable of taking on any project, no matter how ambitious, and seeing it through successfully when we all put our minds to it.”
The Mayor added: “Every year, The Passion generates new feelings and emotions for us. We see things with fresh eyes, and deep sentiments are reawoken that are much more than our religious beliefs or thoughts.”
This theatrical work began at noon with the entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The town was recreated on the Calle Grande with a market typical of the era, complete with food, animals (goats, horses), plus falcons, snakes, doves.
The crowd also joined in the chorus of Hosanna at the entrance of Jesus, played by José Antonio López, who has adopted the part for a number of years.
Following the entrance, the focus shifted to The Last Supper in the plaza Cruz del Llano, followed by a meeting of Jesus with Mary Magdalene, played by Ainhoa Aguilar, a student in the municipal School of Music and Dance (EMMA) and a recent contestant on Spain’s version of The Voice.
The music served to build the emotion of the scenes, and was composed for the representation by the school of music, under the direction of Juan Carlos Coronado.
The scene in the Garden of Gethsemane saw Jerusalem asleep and the kiss from Judas, who, racked with the guilt of betraying Our Lord, subsequently takes his own life.
The Passion then switched to Pontius Pilate and Claudia (played by Raúl de Castro Soriano, a student in the Adeje Municipal Theatre School, Teatro UPA and María Herrera Bethencourt, a student at the EMMA), and to the palace of Herod and Herodias (played by professional actor Nacho Almenar Vera and Adeje Theatre and UPA student Nuria Mariscal).
On the return of Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the audience also had a chance to see the meeting between Jesus and St John (Agoney Hernández, EMMA) and the song expressing the suffering of Christ and the unconditional love of the Apostle for his Lord.
Tears among participants and spectators were in evidence as Jesus was whipped and beaten and began the walk to Calvary, with the slope of the Calle Grande in Adeje towards the Plaza España lending to the realistic imagery presented.
The audience then saw a bloodied Jesus Christ, wearing his crown of thorns, in pain, falling and suffering on his way to be crucified.
His mother, the Virgin Mary, played by Adeje resident Ana Oneida Borges, accompanied him and offered words of comfort.
On his way, as was written, he meets Verónica, who cleans his face with a cloth.
Jesus continued on his cross-bearing way, visibly weakening, falling three times in all, until he arrives at the Plaza.
The solemnity of the crucifixion was observed by the thousands present, with Jesus crying out “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” as the nails were driven into his hands.
Finally, “Into your hands I commend my spirit”, and with his death, the Virgin Mary gave a heartfelt, emotive speech on the passing of her only son.
Once the representation was over, the procession took place with the Fallen Christ brought to the Church of Santa Ursula Martír.
This statue, from the 20th century, was acquired by the Hermandad del Santisimo.
Changes to the entire presentation this year included improved stages for Herod and Pilate, with new costumes and additional props in the Jerusalem market, creating a more realistic atmosphere.
Dances by students from EMMA. as well as those from Beanky Ballet, also added to the colour of the event.
The participation of the EMMA musical department was also vital, with original songs and compositions, incorporating some traditional Canarian musical themes and instruments. The timple, cháracas, the drum, airs and dances add to creating the atmosphere of the era.
During the busy event, there were no incidents reported to the special security detail in place for the duration of The Passion.
Organisers were delighted with the success of this year’s event, congratulating all those who took part, as well as those who worked tireless backstage as well,
The spectacular event has achieved a huge cultural standing in Adeje, which attracts vast interest throughout Spain and beyond.
Many who were present in the audience will have already uploaded photographs and videos online at #pasiondeadeje2015.
Main cast: Jesús (José Antonio López Delgado), Simon Peter (Gonzalo Delgado Ferrera), Judas Iscariot (Balta Isla), Caifás (Francisco Javier Rodríguez del Toro), Anás (Juan Esteban Bravo), Nicodemo (Santi Cano), Centurian (Laudi), Pontias Pilate (Raúl De Castro Soriano), Claudia (María Herrera Bethencourt), Mary (Ana Oneida), Mary Magdelene (Ainhoa Aguilar), María de Cleofás (Milagros), John (Agoney Hernández), Santiago (Francis Méndez Trujillo), Thomas (Pepe Aquino Suárez), Andrew (Manuel Pérez Ramos), Mathew (Epifanio Díaz), Simon (David Pérez), Judas Tadeo (Jesús Manuel Álvarez Marichal), Philip (Florencio Javier), Santiago el de Alfeo (Sergio Vargas), Bartolomé (Pepe Esquivel), Herod (Nacho Almenar), Herodias (Nuria Mariscal Cervós) and The Devil (Víctor Herrera).
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/thousands-flock-adeje-to-salute-passion/)
Viewers were also able follow the event via online streaming, or listen on Radio Sur Adeje 107.9fm or Radio Nacional España.
More than 300 people took part, the majority of them Adeje residents, who were transformed into the many followers of Jesus of Nazareth during the last days of his life.
The staging of 2015′s The Passion was overseen, as always, by Adeje’s Department of Culture, under Councillor Nayra Medina Bethencourt and Laura Marrero, the Department’s Artistic Director.
Adeje Mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, who also took part in the event, congratulated the enormous cast and crew afterwards.
“Without you this would not happen, there would be no Passion Play in Adeje,” he told them. “We are not just showing the world another side of Adeje, the tourist destination, We are showing a people who love and treasure their traditions, and a people who are capable of taking on any project, no matter how ambitious, and seeing it through successfully when we all put our minds to it.”
The Mayor added: “Every year, The Passion generates new feelings and emotions for us. We see things with fresh eyes, and deep sentiments are reawoken that are much more than our religious beliefs or thoughts.”
This theatrical work began at noon with the entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The town was recreated on the Calle Grande with a market typical of the era, complete with food, animals (goats, horses), plus falcons, snakes, doves.
The crowd also joined in the chorus of Hosanna at the entrance of Jesus, played by José Antonio López, who has adopted the part for a number of years.
Following the entrance, the focus shifted to The Last Supper in the plaza Cruz del Llano, followed by a meeting of Jesus with Mary Magdalene, played by Ainhoa Aguilar, a student in the municipal School of Music and Dance (EMMA) and a recent contestant on Spain’s version of The Voice.
The music served to build the emotion of the scenes, and was composed for the representation by the school of music, under the direction of Juan Carlos Coronado.
The scene in the Garden of Gethsemane saw Jerusalem asleep and the kiss from Judas, who, racked with the guilt of betraying Our Lord, subsequently takes his own life.
The Passion then switched to Pontius Pilate and Claudia (played by Raúl de Castro Soriano, a student in the Adeje Municipal Theatre School, Teatro UPA and María Herrera Bethencourt, a student at the EMMA), and to the palace of Herod and Herodias (played by professional actor Nacho Almenar Vera and Adeje Theatre and UPA student Nuria Mariscal).
On the return of Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the audience also had a chance to see the meeting between Jesus and St John (Agoney Hernández, EMMA) and the song expressing the suffering of Christ and the unconditional love of the Apostle for his Lord.
Tears among participants and spectators were in evidence as Jesus was whipped and beaten and began the walk to Calvary, with the slope of the Calle Grande in Adeje towards the Plaza España lending to the realistic imagery presented.
The audience then saw a bloodied Jesus Christ, wearing his crown of thorns, in pain, falling and suffering on his way to be crucified.
His mother, the Virgin Mary, played by Adeje resident Ana Oneida Borges, accompanied him and offered words of comfort.
On his way, as was written, he meets Verónica, who cleans his face with a cloth.
Jesus continued on his cross-bearing way, visibly weakening, falling three times in all, until he arrives at the Plaza.
The solemnity of the crucifixion was observed by the thousands present, with Jesus crying out “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” as the nails were driven into his hands.
Finally, “Into your hands I commend my spirit”, and with his death, the Virgin Mary gave a heartfelt, emotive speech on the passing of her only son.
Once the representation was over, the procession took place with the Fallen Christ brought to the Church of Santa Ursula Martír.
This statue, from the 20th century, was acquired by the Hermandad del Santisimo.
Changes to the entire presentation this year included improved stages for Herod and Pilate, with new costumes and additional props in the Jerusalem market, creating a more realistic atmosphere.
Dances by students from EMMA. as well as those from Beanky Ballet, also added to the colour of the event.
The participation of the EMMA musical department was also vital, with original songs and compositions, incorporating some traditional Canarian musical themes and instruments. The timple, cháracas, the drum, airs and dances add to creating the atmosphere of the era.
During the busy event, there were no incidents reported to the special security detail in place for the duration of The Passion.
Organisers were delighted with the success of this year’s event, congratulating all those who took part, as well as those who worked tireless backstage as well,
The spectacular event has achieved a huge cultural standing in Adeje, which attracts vast interest throughout Spain and beyond.
Many who were present in the audience will have already uploaded photographs and videos online at #pasiondeadeje2015.
Main cast: Jesús (José Antonio López Delgado), Simon Peter (Gonzalo Delgado Ferrera), Judas Iscariot (Balta Isla), Caifás (Francisco Javier Rodríguez del Toro), Anás (Juan Esteban Bravo), Nicodemo (Santi Cano), Centurian (Laudi), Pontias Pilate (Raúl De Castro Soriano), Claudia (María Herrera Bethencourt), Mary (Ana Oneida), Mary Magdelene (Ainhoa Aguilar), María de Cleofás (Milagros), John (Agoney Hernández), Santiago (Francis Méndez Trujillo), Thomas (Pepe Aquino Suárez), Andrew (Manuel Pérez Ramos), Mathew (Epifanio Díaz), Simon (David Pérez), Judas Tadeo (Jesús Manuel Álvarez Marichal), Philip (Florencio Javier), Santiago el de Alfeo (Sergio Vargas), Bartolomé (Pepe Esquivel), Herod (Nacho Almenar), Herodias (Nuria Mariscal Cervós) and The Devil (Víctor Herrera).
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/thousands-flock-adeje-to-salute-passion/)