Qatar National Library, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in Doha, organised a session entitled ‘Sounds of Macondo: Musical Interpretations of One Hundred Years of Solitude’ as part of the ‘Book Talk’ programme. The session brought literature and music together as part of the library’s efforts to build bridges of cultural dialogue between nations and raise awareness of the diversity and richness of the world’s heritage.
Oriana Da Marthe explores the connection between music and the novel
Colombian artist Oriana Da Marthe took part in the session, exploring the relationship between music and storytelling through One Hundred Years of Solitude, one of the best-known works by author Gabriel García Márquez. The event offered literature lovers and music enthusiasts an artistic interpretation of a novel regarded as one of the most influential and significant works of literature in Latin America.
Da Marthe based her performance on her award-winning musical album Journey to Macondo, presenting original pieces that evoked the novel’s ideas and meanings, as well as its memory, imagination and features drawn from the Latin American experience.
Live music captures the atmosphere of Macondo
The performance also transported the audience to the atmosphere of the imaginary town of Macondo, capturing the spirit of magical realism in Márquez’s work through a combination of literary discussion and live music. Haya Abdullah Al-Shaib, senior specialist for adult programmes at Qatar National Library, said organising the event reflected the library’s commitment to going beyond the traditional boundaries of reading.
She added that bringing together Márquez’s literature and Oriana Da Marthe’s musical creations gave session attendees an innovative opportunity to engage with the world’s literary heritage, while celebrating the rich and longstanding artistic traditions of the Republic of Colombia.
For his part, Camilo Vizcaya, first secretary and chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in Doha, stressed Colombia and Qatar’s commitment to deepening their bonds of friendship through cultural initiatives and events. He said the geographical distance between the two countries did not prevent them from sharing affection and mutual respect, as well as a common appreciation of heritage, creativity and cultural exchange.
Vizcaya said events of this kind provided an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two countries and celebrate the rich human values shared by their peoples through the common language of art.
The session offered an example of this rapprochement by bringing together a Colombian novel with a global presence and a live musical experience before an audience in Doha.
