Arnaldo Rodríguez, On the Tightrope of El Talismán

Yes, it is possible to trace an artist’s life through their work. So while I would not call the newly released documentary En la cuerda del Talismán, directed by Roberto Arada Velázquez, strictly biographical, no one can deny that it largely captures the essence of the man behind the music, cultural advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Viewers witness his journey unfold —from his childhood in the Avilean town of Ceballos to the undeniable success he has cultivated over the past two decades, including the restlessness that drove him to ask his beloved hometown for a "visa pa’ la ciudad", as well as the trials and challenges he embraced along the way.

The film features insights from colleagues, friends, and collaborators who have accompanied Arnaldo Rodríguez throughout his career, revealing the troubadour-spirited young man who played bass with Frank Delgado, the devoted admirer of Juan Formell, and the ever-evolving creator in search of his own signature sound—to name just a few facets, without "spoiling" all that figures like maestros Manolito Simonet and Emilio Vega, musicologists Elsida González and Cary Diez, and musicians such as Alexander Abreu, Haila María Mompié, and Raúl Torres bring to light.

The documentary is part of the DVD El Talismán de Cuba, which also includes a live concert filmed at Santiago de Cuba’s Heredia Theater and the band’s three most recent music videos. It was nominated in the Long-Form Audiovisual category at the 2025 Cubadisco International Fair.

This album rounds out celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the group founded and led by Arnaldo: "Though we’d already released the album 20 años del Talismán. Grandes Éxitos (20 Years of El Talismán: Greatest Hits*), this adds to that celebration and complements the previous double album of the band’s songs and dance tracks. It closes this 20-year chapter—because we must keep moving forward,"* said the artist behind hits like "La Lucecita" and "El almendrón."

He says it with satisfaction but remains driven, as it’s not in his nature to dwell on the past. After 16 studio albums, "el mulato acelera’o" ("the fast-paced mulatto") still approaches the next project as a challenge: "When facing a new production, you always ask: What’s new? How do we do it? Because, of course, you’re still eager to create fresh music, to incorporate everything emerging around you —without prejudice, with the only condition that it carries the feeling and force that brought us here: respect for the audience and for music itself."

Is that, ultimately, the tightrope of El Talismán —to vibrate with everything without losing its essence? I ask. The artist, who has chosen to mature without abandoning youth, replies: "Exactly. That’s what we promise our followers: to fuse, experiment, and play with different sounds, but always safeguard our core."

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff