Chucho closes the curtain on Leo Brouwer Festival

By: Yeneily García García

Photo: Yander Zamora

The renowned Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes closed the curtain on the sixth and final edition of Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music, which gave a program of luxury to those who attended its nearly 30 presentations and 40 world and national premieres, between September 26^th  and on October 12^th  in Havana.

Dedicated to Chucho and written especially for him by the Master Leo, the Concert of the Ancients was the climax of a night --the one of this Sunday at Havana's Karl Marx theater that became a double show, where the call classical music gave way to the Creole rhythms, Afro-Cuban jazz and the melodies of those who contributed to the strengthening of Cuban identity.

The Spanish guitarist Ricardo Gallen, released for the first time to the national audience the Ballads of the black Decameron, performed by the Presto String Quartet; then joined the Chamber Orchestra of Havana and Ventus Habana Quintet in the Concert in Havana No 7, both pieces created by Brouwer, considered a living legend of music.

In the second part of the evening, the Chamber Orchestra and Ventus Habana, directed by Cuban composer, accompanied Chucho in implementing the expected piece, an example of what we are, combination of sounds, cultures, races, to which it was paid a tribute through two movements: the hidden memory and Final.

Chucho could not leave without giving the rare pleasure of his music discharge, and before leaving he played together with the Afrocuban Messengers -- composed by top artists such as Rodney Barreto, Gaston Joya, Abreu and Dreiser Yaroldy Durruthy- songs from his album Border free (Without borders), including / Afro Comanche and Abdel.

So it was closed a Festival that offered us the luxury of a top program, with names like Yo-Yo Ma, Carlos Prieto, Fito Paez, Pancho Cespedes, Jenny Q Chai,  Latinoamericano Quartet, Berta Rojas, Niurka Gonzalez, Haydee and Pablo Milanes Jordi Savall and of course Leo Brouwer, who let us celebrate with him his 75 years. Too bad this event will no longer return next year, luckily this farewell will stay in our memories.

Source: Cubarte