Brouwer and Prieto Receive Ambassador Gilberto Bosque Award

Havana.- Cuban guitarist and composer Leo Brouwer and Mexican cellist Carlos Prieto received the ''Embajador Gilberto Bosques'' award in this capital, in recognition of their exceptional careers and contributions to the cultures of their countries.

The ambassador of Mexico in Cuba, Enrique Martinez, delivered the award to the artists and highlighted not only the prolific trajectories of Brouwer and Prieto, but also how their works have helped to strengthen the ties between the two peoples, especially the cultural ones.

They are, the diplomat said, 'two great musicians who have become links of the deep and unbreakable ties that unite both nations.'

The Cuban thanked the gesture, and admitted his happiness to live such a moment, especially to share it with old friends like Prieto, who has a long-standing friendship with him, he added.

Recognized as a talented instrumentalist around the world, Prieto agreed with Brouwer and also thanked the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, which awarded him the Harold Gramatges Honorary Award.

In the tribute, which was held at Marti Theater, the Mexican cellist shared with the public details of his relationship with Cuba, a country he has visited four times.

He recounted important stages of his career as an artist and his relationship with Brouwer, who composed for him and also the cellist Yo-Yo Ma the piece 'The bow and the lyre', title inspired by a book of the same name on poetry of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Octavio Paz.

The work was premiered in 2014 in Havana by both musicians along with the Brazilian guitar duo 'Guitar Duo' during the 6th Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival, the Mexican recalled.

In his speech, Prieto also spoke about his instrument, a Stradivarius cello of 1720 with a random and interesting story until it reached his hands and affectionately baptized 'Miss Cello Prieto'.

The tribute was completed with an exquisite concert program in which the Chamber Orchestra of Havana, directed by the young teacher Daiana Garcia, and the pianist Aldo Lopez Gavilan performed works by different authors, including 'Canciones remotas', from Brouwer, and 'Final obligado', by Carlos Fariñas.

But definitely the big moment of the night was the performance of Prieto, who played the 'Suite No.3 in C Major for cello solo', by Johan Sebastian Bach, and the premiere in Cuba of 'Bachriacion for cello solo', by his compatriot Eugenio Toussaint.

The 'Ambassador Gilberto Bosques Award' recalls the life and work of the former diplomatic representative of Mexico in Cuba from 1953 to 1964, and gave special support to the island in the difficult years of the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.

Source: PL