The Consell de Mallorca has marked the 30th anniversary of 'La Balanguera' being declared the official anthem of Mallorca, a decision made by the Plenary on 4 November 1996. The event included a tribute to the five musicians responsible for adapting the piece, which has become a significant cultural and identity symbol for the island.
Antònia Roca, the Vice President of the Consell de Mallorca and Councillor for Culture and Heritage, emphasised the anthem's importance to Mallorcan society and the need to preserve the island's cultural legacy. Roca previously noted during the Fiesta de Mallorca that 'La Balanguera' is more than just a song; it is a piece that forms part of the history of the Mallorcans, uniting generations like an invisible thread around a shared voice.
A key moment of the commemoration was the tribute to the five musicians. Maria de Carmen Forteza, widow of Pascual Martínez; a representative from the Franciscan order, on behalf of fathers Antoni Martorell Miralles and Francesc Batle Pons; and Joan Company Florit, representing himself and Antoni Parera, received commemorative details.
During the event, Maria Sastre, an employee of the Consell de Mallorca and born in 1996, the year 'La Balanguera' was approved as the anthem, read an excerpt from the minutes of that declaration. Musician Joan Company Florit also spoke on behalf of the five musicians who contributed to the musical adaptation, recalling their role in the island's cultural history.
The commemoration began with a musical performance by Pere Fiol on guitar and concluded with a rendition of 'La Balanguera' by Esther Barceló on vocals and Pere Fiol on guitar. This anniversary coincides with a particularly significant year for Joan Alcover, the poem's author, as 2026 marks the centenary of his death.
As part of the Year of Joan Alcover, the Consell de Mallorca has initiated projects to bring the poet's figure and work closer to the public, including the renewal of the permanent exhibition 'Joan Alcover, the knight poet' at Ca n’Alcover. Additionally, 'La Balanguera' played a prominent role in this year's Fiesta de Mallorca programming, commemorating the centenary of the premiere of the musical version by Amadeu Vives. To celebrate this milestone, the Consell organised the event 'La Balanguera: origins of an anthem', which allowed for a deeper exploration of the composition's history through manuscripts, scores, and original documents.
