Leo Brouwer Office: several artistic proposals for 2016

Backed by international and Cuban organizations—the Cuban Institute of Music, the European Union, about 11 foreign embassies in Cuba, among other institutions—the first cycle of the four great moments organized by the Office for this year is a Solidarity Concert Series hosted by Parroquia del Vedado as a usual venue.

According to maestro Leo Brouwer, in this series of concerts, renowned Cuban and foreign musicians will donate their performances—thus joining the network of solidary artists—to the most vulnerable people and groups in our society such as children with physical and social disabilities, teenagers, and elderly with low purchasing power.

The performances in the Parroquia will take place every last Saturday of the month until June, and will start on 27 February with presentations  by flutist Niurka González accompanied by her students, cellist Alejandro Martinez, among others.

Also in this series of concerts titled German Baroque, and with compositions by exponents of the movement as Philipp Telemann and Handel, will perform Ensamble Solistas de La Habana ¡, directed by Ivan Valiente on the last day of the cycle.

It was also mentioned the Third Edition of Guitars Meeting “Identidades”, an event also supported by Leo Brouwer Office, which will take place during the first week of February in different places of the capital like Casa de las Americas, ALBA Cultural House and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.

Continuing with the four great moments scheduled for 2016, one will pay tribute to the architects of world literature, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare on the 400 years of their deaths. The homage will start on April 23 at Havana’s Teatro Marti, with Spanish soprano Pilar Jurado, guitarist Ricardo Gallen, and Cubans Fidel Leal (pianist) and Frank Ledesma (counter tenor).

Durign that same month, on the 30th, the García Lorca Hall of the Grand Theater of Havana “Alicia Alonso2 will host the performances of countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, “who will perform a purely French repertoire, which is something uncommon, added maestro Brouwer.

For July 23 it will take place another great event in honor of Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu at the National Museum of Fine Arts to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his death.

On the other hand, the second edition of the World Festival of Countertenors dated for September 30 to October 9, will offer a total of 15 concerts and will be attended by renowned maestros such as Max Emanuel Cecic, Spanish Carlos Mena, Polish Artur Stefanowicz and Portuguese Manuel Brás da Costa, said Isabelle Hernandez, director and general producer of the Office.

The Festival Habana A Capella is already scheduled for 2017, from November 1 to 17.

Translation: Cubarte