Alejandro Falcón, New Year, More Music

Alejandro Falcón is one of those creators who never rests. There’s always news of a newly premiered piece, the announcement of a fresh project, or a recent accomplishment. Yet, he never neglects his earlier works, defending them like beloved children.

One of the latest messages I received from him on WhatsApp was about a beautiful danzón he was dedicating to maestro Antonio María Romeu. This provided the perfect excuse to ask my fellow Matanzas native for a quick update on his intensely active musical life.

“This piece is part of the Tríptico Clásico entre Puentes, three albums I recorded in 2022 at Abdala Studios with the Orquesta Ensemble Solistas de la Habana, conducted by maestro Iván Valiente. This CD received two nominations at Cubadisco 2024: in the Symphonic and Chamber Music category, and for Best Liner Notes, thanks to the work of musicologist Carmen Souto. The album includes several compositions such as Suite entre las dos aguas, Las 4 Estaciones Matanceras, Tributo a la Virgen del Cobre, Vals para Ochún, and various danzones of my own creation arranged for piano and chamber orchestra. One of these is Canción para Romeu, which we dedicated to Antonio María Romeu on the 70th anniversary of his passing.”

In a musical landscape as rich as Cuba’s, what connects Romeu and Alejandro Falcón?

“I’m always studying and researching, especially about the great musicians who contributed to Cuban music. Antonio María Romeu was the one who introduced the piano into the charanga at the start of the 20th century. He was a pianist and composer who developed a unique style of music, so of course, one must draw from his wellspring of inspiration.”

You’re a very versatile creator. Recently, you worked on the music for the telenovela Renacer, and we also saw you in small on-screen appearances. What was that audiovisual experience like?

“This is the second soap opera for which I have had the responsibility of creating the soundtrack. The first was Vidas Cruzadas, directed by Heiking Hernández, for which we also released a namesake album —my fourth production— under the Colibrí record label. For Renacer, we launched a CD that is already available on platforms like Spotify and iTunes. This year, we will continue promoting its songs and instrumental themes.

“I also appeared in several scenes of the telenovela at the request of the director and team. It was a unique experience that I was happy to share with them.”

What are your plans for 2025, which has just begun?

“This year, we will release the Renacer CD in physical format, and we will continue performing concerts with my group, Alejandro Falcón & Cubadentro. I will be in Santiago de Cuba with Buena Vista All Stars as part of the International Jazz Plaza Festival. Additionally, I will present my book, Danzando entre Puentes, at the Conservatory, where I will give a lecture on the history of Cuban tumbao. I gave a version of this lecture two years ago for National Son Day, but this time it will be more developed.

“Of course, I will continue promoting the music from the Tríptico Clásico entre Puentes alongside maestro Iván Valiente and the Ensemble Solistas de la Habana. We have already performed a beautiful concert at the Music Museum, as well as at the National Concert Music Center. In early February, we will perform at Casa del Alba. We are also planning to shoot a music video and physically release the album later this year. Naturally, I will launch it in Matanzas, as much of the music across these three albums is dedicated to the city where I was born.”

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff