Alcalá de Henares has celebrated its day: the delivery of the 2023 Miguel de Cervantes Prize to the 93-year-old poet Rafael Cadenas. An event, the largest -because it is solemn- of the University of Alcalá, which has left us with anecdotes to remember. These are the details for this Monday, April 24.
Don Felipe He was carrying the mayor of Alcalá’s baton, a piece that dates from the 19th century. The King, in morning coat and with the Golden Fleece on his left lapel, presented the medal and the sculpture to the Venezuelan writer. At that time, the red and yellow cord that held the winner’s medal has become a bit tangled. The King has helped the poet to put it on so that he could return to his place. Both the monarch and Letizia have congratulated the poet with great affection. The media have followed every detail from the enabled press room.
Along with Cadenas, his daughter Paula has been present throughout the ceremony, who has assisted him to walk and climb the steps that led him to the dais. In his Cervantine speech, Cadenas has managed his pauses and his silences. He has made references to Walt Whitman and George Orwell and has winked at Cervantes “as a great defender of freedom.” At the end, he has received a warm applause for two minutes. An admiration and recognition that the winner has deeply appreciated.
The event concluded with a beautiful interpretation of the classic Let us therefore rejoice. At the end of the event, the Kings have left the Auditorium and have shared a pleasant walk to the Patio de los Filósofos. During the walk, they talked with Cadenas, who was without a cane, and with his daughter. A few seconds before posing for the family photo, Cadenas leaned on the arm of Joy, which has helped him walk. They have remained like this for about six paces until they have been positioned for the image.
The delivery of the new Cervantes 2023 has had a resounding finale. The young poet from Zaragoza Omar Fonollosa has given Letizia his collection of poems Children do not see coffins, Hyperion Poetry Prize 2022. Even the Queen has signed a book for him. After the traditional cocktail, the complutense tuna has fired the Kings in the Plaza de Cervantes. They sang the song of the tuna de Alcalá.
