Office of Leo Brouwer: Press Conference Honors Chucho Valdés on His 70th Birthday

[TOP: From left, Chucho Valdés and Leo Brouwer BOTTOM: From left, Chucho Valdés, Alfredo Muñoz, Leo Brouwer and Guille Vilar]

Leo Brouwer (b. 1939) is an Afro-Cuban classical guitarist, composer and orchestra conductor who is featured at AfriClassical.com. Isabelle Hernàndez writes from the Office of Leo Brouwer. She identifies the people in the Bottom photograph as, from the Left, Chucho Valdés, Alfredo Muñoz*, Leo Brouwer and Guille Vilar*. The asterisks denote the names of the Winners of the Premio Espiral Eterna 2011 (2011 Eternal Spiral Award). The Top picture is of Chucho Valdés and Leo Brouwer. The press conference on September 9, 2011 was in homage of Chucho Valdés on the occasion of his 70th Birthday.

Isabelle Hernàndez also notes that the concert "La fiesta de la Luz" (Celebration of the Light) on October 6, 2011 will feature the Ernan López-Nussa Trio, José Manuel Hierro (flamenco guitarist, Spain), Marco Tamayo (guitarist), Edwin Vichot (Cuban lute), Duo Habana da Camera, Wind Quintet Santa Cecilia, Darío Martín (pianist) and Leo Brouwer as conductor.

'La Fiesta de la Luz' of Leo Brouwer is premiered at 'Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music' 9/30-10/7

[Leo Brouwer]

Leo Brouwer (b. 1939) is an Afro-Cuban classical guitarist, composer and orchestra conductor who is featured at AfriClassical.com. He also hosts an annual Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music:

“Leo Brouwer Festival, a gift

CIUHavana.com

Wednesday, 21 September 2011 12:32

Written by L. Calvo

"Havana joyfully welcomes the third Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music, to be held from 30 September to 7 October, 2011. Its much awaited concerts will be in unique venues such as the San Francisco de Asís Convent´s Basílica Menor in Old Havana, as well as the Covarrubias Room at Cuba´s National Theater and the Casa de África.

“There are many incentives included in this event for music lovers, as the scheduled concerts will have works performed by composers Hubert de Blanck, José Ardévol, Josep Soler, Leonardo Balada, Joan Manuel Serrat and Leo Brouwer himself, giving us an opportunity to walk around and enjoy a panorama of national and international chamber music from the twentieth century to more contemporary.

“Also a luxury are invited artists: Soloists: Marco Tamayo (Cuban-Austrian), Anabel Montesinos (Spanish), Manuel Guillén (Spanish) and Niurka González; Havana´s Chamber Orchestra, the Santa Cecilia Wind Quartet, Grupo Sintesis and pianist Ernán López-Nussa and his Trio, among others. In my opinion, the Festival´s 'highlight,' is the deserved tribute that will be given to pianist Chucho Valdés, who´s turning 70. His works 'Mambo influenciado' (Influenced Mambo), 'Los cuatrocientos golpes' (The Four Hundred Blows), 'La perla del Edén' (The Pearl of Eden) and 'Danzón patético' (Pathetic Dancing), arranged by Ernán López-Nussa, can be seen this 6 October at the San Francisco de Asís Convent´s Basílica Menor.

“This third Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music will hold three lectures at the Havana San Gerónimo University where they´ll discuss Hubert de Blanck, the life and work of José Ardévol and the master Chucho Valdés´ new jazz concepts. Another special moment in store for us is the premiere of Leo Brouwer's 'La Fiesta de la Luz' (The Festival of Light), by the Santa Cecilia Wind Quartet and young pianist Darío Martín.”