Cuban Composer José María Vitier Wins Prestigious International Award in China

Renowned Cuban composer and pianist José María Vitier has been awarded the 2025 "1573" International Composition Prize, presented in the city of Luzhou, China, in recognition of his contributions to contemporary music, as reported by the site Alma Plus Online.

The distinction was announced on November 2 during the gala “Let Poetry and Wine Warm Everyone,” held at the Olympic Sports Center of that city. Vitier, a National Music Prize winner (2021), was born in Havana in 1954. He is the author of works such as the Misa Cubana a la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, Habana Concerto, and the soundtrack for the film Strawberry and Chocolate (1993).

The "1573" award, established in 2018 by the International Conference on Wine Poetry and Culture, honors the liquor Luzhou Laojiao Guojiao 1573, a symbol of Chinese winemaking heritage. Poets, writers, musicians, and artists from over 60 countries, including China, Russia, Cuba, and Peru, gathered at the event, which is considered a tribute to poetry, wine, and cultural exchange.

During the ceremony, the "1573" International Poetry Prize was also awarded to Russian Maxim Amelin, and the "1573" Poetry Translation Prize was given to Zhang Zhenhui and German sinologist Wolfgang Kubin.