Virtual Don Quixote reading for COVID-19 quarantine in Madrid
Spain's annual Don Quixote reading tradition went digital due to COVID-19 quarantine. The Circulo de Bellas Artes hosted its continuous reading online, opened by poet Joan Margarit with participation from Princesses Leonor and Sofia. The Instituto Cervantes launched "La libertad es una librería" talks. The most alternative initiative was #YoTambiénLeoElQuijote by EFE news agency, featuring 90 celebrities and ordinary citizens reading from quarantine. Participants included writers Almudena Grandes, María Dueñas, Javier Cercas, Spain's culture minister, Colombia's culture minister, the director of the Instituto Cervantes, the director of the Prado Museum, chefs, fashion designers, bullfighters, and collector Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. Contributions were in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, and Basque. The National Library offered interactive viewing of the 1605 first edition online.
Key facts
- April 23 is International Book Day, established by UNESCO in 1988, linked to deaths of Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso in 1616.
- The Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid hosts an annual continuous reading of Don Quixote.
- COVID-19 quarantine canceled physical events, prompting digital alternatives.
- The Instituto Cervantes promoted online meetings titled 'La libertad es una librería'.
- Joan Margarit, winner of the 2020 Cervantes Prize, opened the Circulo de Bellas Artes online reading.
- Princesses Leonor and Sofia participated in the Circulo de Bellas Artes reading.
- #YoTambiénLeoElQuijote by EFE featured 90 participants including celebrities and essential workers.
- Participants included writers Almudena Grandes, María Dueñas, Javier Cercas, Spain's culture minister, Colombia's culture minister, director of Instituto Cervantes, director of Prado Museum, chefs, fashion designers, bullfighters, and collector Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo.
- Contributions were in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, and Basque for the first time.
- The National Library of Spain offered interactive viewing of the 1605 first edition of Don Quixote.
Entities
Artists
- Miguel de Cervantes
- William Shakespeare
- Inca Garcilaso
- Joan Margarit
- Almudena Grandes
- María Dueñas
- Javier Cercas
- Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo
Institutions
- UNESCO
- Circulo de Bellas Artes
- Instituto Cervantes
- Biblioteca Nacional de España
- EFE
- Museo del Prado
- Fundación Sandretto Re Rebaudengo
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain
- Barcelona
- Alcalá de Henares
- Colombia
- Italy
- Turin