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.
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.
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
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)