Cuba Journal

Here is the Classical Music Event of the Year in Cuba

classical havana music

Judging by Cuba’s emphasis on music education in the first 12 years of school, eight hours per week means they are among the most musical people in the world.

The music scene in Cuba has evolved over the last several years as major bands including the Rolling Stones have played for massive crowds. And increased tourism has translated into long lines for Havana music venues large and small.

Now, an ambitious, crowd-funded initiative, Classical Havana (Habana Clásica), aims to make an international classical music gathering a source of harmony and cultural exchange.

The event, April 18 – 23, 2017, will present six days of classical music activities in Havana, including:

• Master classes at the conservatory.

• Pop-up concerts in the plazas of Havana.

• An interactive concert in a school for children and families presenting Terry Riley’s ‘In C’ (with everyone participating in the concert)

Plus:

• Five concerts over three days in the concert halls of Havana.

 • Two concerts with two of Havana’s chamber orchestras.

• Three concerts featuring 11 artists from around the world.

• Three premieres by our composer-in-residence.

Habana Clásica is presented by the Oficina del Historiador de La Habana / UP Patrimonio Cultural / Gabinete de Patrimonio Musical Esteban Salas / Dirección de Gestión Cultural.
The project is being officially presented by several cultural institutions within Cuba. The concerts are being presented by El Gabinete de Patrimonio Musical Esteban Salas and are being presented in conjunction with El Taller Internacional de Patrimonio Histórico-Documental de la Música en Hipanoamérica.
Marcos Madrigal, director artistico Habana Clásica

Classical Havana is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Classical Havana must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. None of the artists are accepting payment for this event in what is expected to be an annual happening.

According to Kathy Geisler, director of operations and co-founder of the organization, “Famous music gatherings around the world are referred to by their city name: Aspen, Verbier, Tanglewood, Bucharest, Yerevan, Lucerne, Bergen, and many more. We would like to place ‘Havana’ on that list.”

Sponsorships remain available.

Concert Schedule:

April 21, 2017 – 16:00

Havana, Cuba

Aula Magna del Colegio San Gerónimo

with Música Eterna Orchestra, Guido López Gavilán, music director

Bach Aria from Goldberg for violin solo with string orchestra (arr. Sitkovetsky)

Paganini Sonata per la Grand Viola

Ysaÿe Sonata for Solo Viola (orig. violin), Op. 27, No. 2 “Jacques Thibaud”: IV. Les furies

Piazzolla Oblivion for cello and strings

Gavilán Cantus for string orchestra

Bottesini Elegy for double bass and strings

Michael Fine – Finale from Suite for strings

Bach Concerto for two violins in D Minor

April 21 2017 – 18:00

Havana, Cuba

Basilica Menor del convento San Francisco de Asis

Popper Hungarian Rhapsody

Bizet / Waxman Carmen Fantasie

Bazzini The Dance of the Goblins (La Ronde des Lutins), Scherzo fantastique, Op. 25

Sarasate Navarra for two violins and piano, Op. 33

Rechtman Short Jazzy Pieces for piano trio: No. 9

Michael Fine Tokyo Rain for cello and piano – World Premiere

Schubert Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 “Trout”

April 22, 2017 – 16:00

Havana, Cuba

Oratorio San Felipe Neri

Bartok Roumanian Folk Dances

Michael Fine Moments 2 for string quartet

Franck Sonata in A Major for violin and piano

Kreisler Tambourin Chinois, Op.3 for violin and piano

Kreisler Liebesfreud for violin and piano

Elgar La Capricieuse, Op.17 for violin and piano

Bach Sonata for violin solo in G Minor, BWV 1001: Fuga

April 22, 2017 – 18:00

Havana, Cuba

Basilica Menor del convento San Francisco de Asis

with Chamber Orchestra of Havana, Daiana Garcia, music director

Mendelssohn Concerto in D Minor for violin and strings

Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte for viola and strings

Piazzolla Winter

Bach Keyboard Concerto in F Minor

Gavilán Epílogo

Saint-Saëns Rondo Capriccioso

Mosé one string variations Paganini-Rossini

Grieg Holberg Suite

April 23, 2017 – 11:00

Havana, Cuba

Aula Magna del Colegio de San Gerónimo

Bach Chromatic Fantasy for viola solo (transcribed by Kodaly)

Barriere Duo for cello and double bass No. 10 in G Major

Haydn String Quartet No. 63 in B-Flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4 “Sunrise”

Mozart Adagio and Fugue in G Minor for string trio after Bach BWV 883

Bruckner Intermezzo in D Minor for string quintet, WAB 113

Shugaev Ciao Lugano for strings

Shostakovich Polka for strings

Glass String Quartet No. 3 “Mishima”

Bach Aria da Capo e Fine from the Goldberg Variations for string trio (arr. by Gotlibovich)

Here is the Classical Music Event of the Year in Cuba was last modified: March 19th, 2017 by Cuba Journal