Omara Portuondo Says Goodbye to International Stages

Omara Portuondo Says Goodbye to International Stages
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3 July 2022
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Cuban singer Omara Portuondo will return to Spain as part of her 'Vida' world tour with which she will bid farewell to international stages.

At 91 years old, Portuondo -known as the 'Diva' of the group of Cuban musical legends Buena Vista Social Club- will begin her Europe tour on July 19th with her participation in the Festival la Mar de Músicas, in the Spanish city of Cartagena (Murcia).

'I feel like it's a good time to personally leave a see you later! to my followers in the most distant countries, to which, since teleportation has not yet been invented, it seems more difficult for me to return,' said the veteran singer in a note delivered to EFE this Wednesday by the Spanish artistic company Mirmidón Producciones, tour promoter.

But Omara Portuondo - whom Cubans like to call 'the bride of feeling'- she warns that the 'Vida' tour does not mean an absolute goodbye, she will only move away from commitments abroad.

That's why she says: 'For me, singing is living, it's my way of being. If you ask me for my favorite place, it will always be the stage, the song that I sing, the next applause'.

And she adds: 'As long as I have a voice and someone wants to hear me, allow me to sing.'

Although on July 30th, the artist announced a concert in Portugal, she is scheduled to return to perform on August 9th at 'Los Veranos de la Villa' festival in Madrid, where the King and Queen of Spain awarded her the Medal of Honor in 2021. Gold to the Merit of Fine Arts.

Recalling that distinction, the singer pointed out that she received that medal, 'as always, on behalf of Cuba, proud to be able to represent our music and our culture.'

The interpreter's next stop will be Brussels, on August 12th, to sing at the Antilliaanse festival.

During the tour she will interpret songs that have accompanied her in her long artistic career such as 'Solamente una vez', 'Bésame mucho', 'Veinte Años', 'Quizás, quizás', 'Tú me acostumbraste', 'Amor de mis amores', 'Mi mejor canción', and 'Dos gardenias', among other hits.

She will be supported in these performances by the musicians Andrés Coayo (percussion), Martín Alejandro Chávez (drums), José Raúl Machado (bass), Yadasny José Porrtillo (piano and artistic direction).

Omara Portuondo has said that 'Vida' is a word that has an important meaning for her right now because of 'so much sad news, so many goodbyes, so much distance, which have made us understand better the worth of life, family, and friends'.

She won a Grammy Award, two Latin Grammys and the prestigious Billboard Latin Music Award, in 2005. In 2019 she received the Latin Award for Musical Excellence.

On top of that are her nominations to the Latin Grammy Academy in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005, and her last in 2021 for the song 'Bolero a la Vida', recorded with the Guatemalan singer-songwriter Gavy Moreno.

The singer of genres as diverse as jazz, new trova, traditional Cuban song, son music, danzón, bolero, and habaneras premiered her most recent album, 'Mariposas' (2020), during the pandemic, which was nominated to the Latin Grammy Award in the category of Best Contemporary Tropical Album.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff

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