Excellence Awards 2018: Notes of a Tribute Gala (+ Photos)

Just at nine o'clock in the evening and evoking past times, he began in the Covarrubias Room of the National Theater of Cuba, on the night of this February 20, the Tribute Gala that the Excelencias Group paid to the always noble and faithful Havana, very close to his 500th anniversary. It was necessary then that, at that time, when, a long time ago, the city closed its doors, the sound of the cannon announced the beginning of the evening.

With that mixture that was born from the guitar and the drum batá, a representation of the very applauded company Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba showed the synchronization of their choreographies to give way later, to a group of new and consecrated artists of the Cuban culture.

It was Mr. José Carlos de Santiago, president of the Excelencias Group, in charge of thanking the artists for their efforts as well as the tribute to the unforgettable Jorge Bordas, an excellent consecrated ... of Excelencias. He also highlighted the celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Arte por Excelencias publication, which brings to the world what is best and shines in Hispanic-American art in both digital and printed formats.

The meeting continued with the fine performance of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, under the direction of Maestro Enrique Pérez Mesa and the performances of Milagros de los Ángeles and Bernardo Lichilín, with a respective care of interpretation in classical works of the Cuban repertoire such as Siboney by Ernesto Lecuona and Tú de Sánchez de Fuentes.

The director of the show, the careful maestro José Ramón Artigas (combination of experience and good taste for more than 50 years) did well to take advantage of the moment to pay tribute to a man who, although he was not born in Havana, became a son Most beloved of this city, of Cuba and countless countries of the world: Benny Moré. In the year of its centenary, three songs popularized by El Genio in the voices of Niurka Reyes, Alcibiades Durruthy and Beatriz Márquez, National Music Award, 2015. We highlight the selection of the repertoire: How it was (Ernesto Duarte); Fever of you (Juan Arrondo) and I preferred to lose you (Angel Lores).

Applauded the piano performance of Emilio Morales; a shy Niurka Reyes; a young Durruthy who must-for upcoming performances-discover better the demands of a bolero, control the tones and the use of the microphone. And a Beatriz Márquez who will always be required to sing more and more. His presence is already a trump card.

Among the awards ceremony, the show was followed by an act of Russian bar performed by artists from the National Circus of Cuba; the multi-awarded Septeto Santiaguero, with an unmistakable stamp of the city that made them famous, a special gift to Havana from music, audiovisual and dance with dancers

In the background a theme recorded by Omara Portuondo and Polito Ibáñez: Loyal to time, as a clear message of gratitude to that man full of light that is Eusebio Leal.

At another time, José Carlos de Santiago recognized the creators and institutions that received the Excelencias del Arte Prize who continue to work and demonstrate that "we all have space in this world," he said.

As a climax, a traditional and dignified Folklore Ensemble with choreography by its director Manolo Micler, National Dance Award, with an approach to the saga of dances and comparsas of Havana, a city that we will have to do, from excellence … the biggest!