Misteri d’Elx completes rehearsals for its autumn performances
The Festa on 1 November includes two free performances and a procession and burial of the Virgin at the end of La Vespra.
The Basilica of Santa María in Elche is hosting the autumn performances of Misteri d’Elx, prepared through musical and stage rehearsals held from 20 to 22 October. The full rehearsals took place on 30 and 31 October, ahead of the main day of the Festa, this Sunday 1 November.
The official programme set by the Patronato scheduled the full rehearsals for 21:30 on Friday and 20:30 on Saturday, both ticketed. For Sunday, it announced two free events: La Vespra at 10:00 and La Festa at 17:00. The procession and burial of the Virgin is scheduled to take place at the end of the first part.
The rehearsals brought together child and adult participants, who went over the singing and movements in the Andador and the Cadafal. Javier Gonzálvez and José Manuel Guinot directed the vocal work, while Pablo Más coordinated the stage movements. The joint preparation took place without adding any new participants compared with August.
Official mourning following the railway accident in Urda, Toledo, changed the rehearsals on 30 and 31 October. The music for the procession, the ringing of the bells and the fireworks were cancelled. In addition, work in the Plaça del Congrés Eucarístic meant that access to the basilica had to be adapted, with entry via the door of San Agatángelo.
A floral carpet was announced for the Festa, to be laid after Saturday’s rehearsal, along with the use of the Clarisas’ textile ensemble for the Virgin of the Assumption. The piece, made in 1931, was restored by the Generalitat.
The Misteri depicts the Dormition, Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin Mary. Its origins date back to the second half of the 15th century, and it continues to be performed at Santa María thanks to a rescript issued by Pope Urban VIII in 1632. In 2026, it will be 25 years since UNESCO recognised it as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This autumn’s performances also extend a run of three consecutive years of autumn performances in Elche.
Article produced by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, from public sources.
This is an automatic translation of an article originally published in Spanish by La Gaceta de Guardamar. If in doubt, the Spanish version prevails. Read the original · More news in English