Festival of Chamber Music came to an end

The 12th Festival of Chamber Music, held from April 18 to 25 in Havana, especially at the Historical Heritage Site Center, included in its program 16 concerts, a symposium devoted to prestigious professor Carmen Valdés, and two master lectures.

This event, which proved the impulse reached by chamber music from the foundation of the National School of Art (in Spanish, ENA), the study of the curricula in the conservatories, as well as the training courses of some Cuban singers at the former Socialist nations, turned into intense days for musicians, artists and the audience in general.

The Organizing Committee of the Festival acknowledged the president of the event, maestro Frank Fernández, who said the following closing words: “Rather than being the president of the event, I have been a sort of an assistant; I tried to save all that is lost, on behalf of music”. And he continued: “We have, on one side, the support of institutions, like the City Historian Office, the Cuban Television and the musicians themselves. I think that the main thing here is the participation of the interpreters, who have made an extraordinary effort, because they have mostly made interesting programs, with premiere works”.

“On the other side, we must highlight the fact of promoting young composers, as the concert dedicated only to them, an idea conceived by maestro Juan Piñera, not only with his students, as he is a sort of cultural promoter, which is a very gratifying work”.

”In addition, I would like to stress the devotion of artists, despite the obstacles. An example of this was the day we paid tribute to Maestro Jesús Ortega—for his 80th birthday and the 20th of his Guitar Orchestra Sonantas Habaneras—where, in spite of the blackout at the Basílica, they bravely offered their concert, in a gesture of respect and devotion to the audience present there.

”The virtuosity of Camerata Romeu was extraordinary, after having performed by heart the chosen repertoire, including premiere works, a striking and unique example of the Festival, not only for Cuba, but for the world, because in very few festivals the Chamber Orchestras execute their program completely by heart. This paradigm of Romeu does not only deserve an ovation, but reverence and a lot of respect”, finished Frank Fernández.

Indeed, young Yadira Cobo, musician, violinist and composer, whose works the Camerata performed for the first time on the night of April 23, said in an exclusive interview for Habana Radio station: “thanks so much to the girls of the orchestra and, especially, to our conductor, Zenaida, for having given me, once more, a confidence vote, since it is not the first time I write for the orchestra”.

“I am very excited, very happy. The muse came alone, very long ago; even the works I played at school, on the piano, were mine”.

Moreover, Frank Fernández highlighted again the effort of all those composers who wrote their works for this meeting: “all the young people who have proposed themselves achieved a very high level with the programs. I am very happy with the participation of Puerto Rican maestro Francisco Cabán, on the violin, and US quintet from the American String Institute of Ravinia, which shared with me during the opening day”.

“It is very hard to make events like this, but increasingly and with the prestige we are gaining, we will have more sponsors. By the time being, I am pleased with the participation of the audience, which is very decisive for any artist.”

“It is true we enjoy making things, but we are nothing if we do not have a receiver. Thanks for coming; those young faces compel me, they give me strength and I am sure that none of what you hear here, you learn here, nothing that purifies here will do any harm; just the opposite, it will make you better professionals in all fields. I hope you come to the next festival”, concluded the Honorary President of Havana Chamber Music Festival.

The program of the closing night was performed by the Promusica Duet, composed of maestros Alfredo Muñoz, on violin, María Victoria del Collado, on the piano, and cellist Alejandro Martínez as guest, interpreting works by Juan Piñera and Dimitri Shostakovich, at the first moment.

Then, Havana Chamber Orchestra came on stage, having as guests Harold Lopéz-Nussa on the piano, and Fadev Zanjudo on trumpet, performing pieces by Ninno Rota, Shostakovich, Harold himself and Aldo López-Gavilán.

The audience, generally, said to be happy for having participated, and for having pleasant surprises like the one during the closing night with Camerarpa and Ars Longa ensembles. Actually, the quality has been excellent. Others wish this opportunity to be repeated with proposals like these and other guests.

They said the Cuban musicians keep, as usual, a very high quality, as well as the pieces shown for the first time.

The invitation has already been made for the 13th edition of the Chamber Music Festival. Surely intense work sessions await us, aimed at continuing developing this genre, for the spiritual growth, not only of the audience, but of musicians as well.

Source: Habana Radio