This year, the “The Theatrical performance of the finding of the Virgin”—the centerpiece of Benidorm’s *Festes Majors Patronals* (major patronal festivals)—will feature a new addition. The goal is to further elevate and add character to a theatrical tradition that has been performed for half a century by the *Associació Cultural i Recreativa La Barqueta*. In just over 60 minutes, the performance recounts the events that took place in Benidorm on March 16, 1740, and in the days and weeks that followed. The new element is a symphonic suite composed by maestro Francisco José Rovira Peretó, titled *‘Arribada d’una Imatge de la Verge a Benidorm’*—sharing its name with the work by Pere Maria Orts i Bosch. This “very exciting” project involved the active participation of *La Barqueta*, the *Societat Musical La Nova*, and the Benidorm City Council’s Department of Culture, headed by Jaime Jesús Pérez.
On Thursday, the city’s mayor, Toni Pérez; the president of *La Barqueta*, Francisco Llorens; and the composer and director of *La Nova*, Francisco José Rovira, presented full details of the composition. It will premiere on Saturday, November 7, on Poniente Beach during the performance, with the participation of the Councilors for Culture and Festivities, Jaime Jesús Pérez and Mariló Cebreros.
The suite is structured into eight movements that chronologically follow the progression of the reenactment, “thereby transforming the various episodes that make up this historical account into music,” the mayor explained. The musical narrative is interwoven with the reenactment itself—incorporating the performances of the actors from the ‘La Barqueta’ Cultural and Recreational Association, as well as a recording by the late narrator, Pepe Bayona (known as ‘the voice of time’). This adds a layer of complexity to the staging, as every element must be timed almost to the second.
Toni Pérez noted that the *Trobada de la Mare de Déu del Sofratge* (The Encounter with the Virgin of the Suffrage) was designated a ‘Festival of Regional Tourist Interest’ in 2015—a recognition achieved well before the broader festival celebrations earned similar status. There is now an ambition to elevate this recognition to a national level. Consequently, he praised the initiative taken by both cultural organizations—supported by the Department of Culture—highlighting that it “will undoubtedly provide further justification for this national designation, while enriching an event that expresses our identity and spirit as a people. It serves as the fundamental starting point and the very reason for our *Festes Majors Patronals* (Major Patronal Festivals).” These festivities center on the image of the patron saint and the story of her discovery—found intact amidst the ashes of a drifting boat that had been towed to the coast by Benidorm sailors, only for the authorities to order it burned in 1740 out of fear of potential contagion.

Francisco Llorens, president of La Barqueta, elaborated on this, stating that the decision to commission this piece was made to strengthen the application for the event to be recognized as a “Festival of National Tourist Interest.” He further explained that, in addition to the new musical score, the historical recording that accompanies the performance has been cleaned up to improve its audio quality.

For his part, Francisco José Rovira noted that composing this suite “was a major project, involving a great deal of work,” and expressed his hope that it would both “please and move” the audience. The composer explained that the work is divided into two parts: “the first, more adventurous, depicts Antonio Bayona and his men setting out to sea in search of the boat, unsure of what they might encounter”; the second is “more historical and emotional, blending elements from the original recording and paying tribute to Benidorm’s seafaring tradition and its sailors.” In total, the musical score spans 40 minutes.

The titles of the individual pieces are: ‘N’és l’hora de l’alba’; ‘El llagut’; ‘El llondro’; ‘Varant el llondro’; ‘La cremà del llondro’; ‘Pregària’; ‘Vocació marinera’; and ‘Trobada de la Mare de Déu’.

Special Concert and CD Launch
Although the complete work will premiere in the setting for which it was created—as part of the *Hallazgo* (Discovery) reenactment during the festival weekend—the public will have the chance to hear its individual movements a few days earlier. A special concert by the *SM La Nova* musical society will take place on Friday, October 30, at the Cultural Center’s Rafael Doménech Auditorium. The event will also feature the launch of a CD, recorded this past July at the same venue. The disc includes the suite *‘Arribada d’una Imatge de la Verge a Benidorm’* (Arrival of an Image of the Virgin in Benidorm), performed by *La Nova*, alongside other festival-related pieces played by the *La Barqueta* Plucked-String Orchestra (*Orquesta de Pulso y Púa*). The CD will be made available for purchase by the organization starting that day.

The mayor, along with representatives from both organizations involved in this initiative, has invited the public to attend either this special concert—which begins at 9:00 p.m. and offers free admission until capacity is reached—or the *Trobada de la Mare de Déu* (Encounter with the Mother of God) reenactment. Both events provide an opportunity to enjoy this new musical composition, on which Rovira Peretó has been working for over a year.