National Scientific Meeting on Library Science

The 9th National Scientific Meeting on Library Science of the Cuban Association of Librarians (ASCUBI) is taking place in Havana.

The meeting, which aims at the development of a Research Program on this field in the country, is attended by specialists from Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Camagüey and Havana, as well as by guests from foreign nations.

The event is scheduled to end on Saturday, February 12, and the papers presented deal with the theoretical and methodological foundations of this science, reading, management, technology, and on the products and services libraries offer.

Documental research, the Cooperative Service of Access to the Documents, and activities for regulating hyperactivity in children with special education needs will be some of the topics to discuss at Havana’s ‘Jose Marti’ National Library.

In the final day of the event, the director of this center, Horacio Gonzalez, will offer a lecture on February 13 at La Cabaña fortress, the main venue of the 20th International Book Fair Cuba 2011, which begins on Thursday.

During the inauguration of the meeting a specialist from the Institute of Scientific and Technological Information announced that the 12th International Conference on Information will take place at Havana’s Convention Center from April 16 to 20, 2012.

The specialist affirmed that this meeting will include lectures, panels, seminars, round tables and workshops to discuss topics such as management and open access to knowledge, the preservation of documents, and technological innovations.

Maria de los Ángeles Santana Passed Away

The Cuban actress Maria de los Angeles Santana, a famous leading figure of theater, cinema, radio and television, died in Havana at age 96.

She was and will be a Glory of Cuban culture, an example of true artist always committed to her people.

She was born on August 2, 1914. She debuted as a singer in the 30s of last century, and alternated her work with small roles in films such as Romance del palmar, Mi tía de America and El cancionero Cubano, and other American productions, such as Argentinian and Mexican films.

She got The National Theatre Award in 2001 and National TV Award in 2003. She shared the stage with personalities such as Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Mario Moreno (Cantinflas), in Mexico, where she was praised for her versatility and stage projection.

She’s also remembered for her roles in series such as Los abuelos se rebelan and San Nicolás del Peladero, where she worked during 24 years without any interruption.

She left her mark on the tables in pieces like A Taste of Honey, Algo no dicho, La Verbena de la paloma, Tía Meim and Una Casa Colonial, and she also worked at the opera house with the great composer Ernesto Lecuona.
Considered one of the most versatile artists of her generation; during her more than seven decades of experience was awarded with the Medal Alejo Carpentier and Félix Varela Order of First Degree, granted by the State Council.

Cuban people will remeber forever her teaching in the world of performing arts. And she will be a benchmark for future generations of artists.

"The Black Mother of José Martí"

The legendary Hotel Inglaterra in Havana in its space Book of Today, under the leadership of the journalist Matilde Salas Servando, will host the launch of "The Black Mother of José Martí”, written by the historian Josefina Toledo Benedit. This activity integrates the cultural presentations organized by the Hotel Inglaterra because of the XX International Book Fair Cuba 2011.

This book was, winner of July 26 Award in genre of biography, in its prologue, the historian Fernando Martínez Heredia stated that, since the beginning, the book highlights the extensive use and good use of sources in a subject in which they are scarce and no data on more than one issue.

The author offers in six chapters, 150 pages, different facets of a humble black woman’s life, who was a free womb daughter, known as Paulina Pedroso, because of her marriage to Ruperto Pedroso, but her real named was Paulina Hernández Hernández.

Josefina Toledo Benedit is PhD in Historical Sciences, researcher and Professor, writer and poet. She has received awards and mentions in national literary contests and has published books, articles and poems in Cuba and other countries.

A Renowned Serbian Musician to Perform in Cuba

The Prestigious Serbian lutenist Edin Karamazov will offer a concert on February 19 in the Minor Basilica of the Convent of St. Francis of Assisi, and will perform pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and Cuban guitarist Leo Brouwer.

According to Leo Brouwer’s Office, Karamazov will combine the lute with Bach’s pieces and the electric guitar with a selection of Brouwer’s Paisajes Cubanos.

The concert, entitled Hecho en silencio (Done in silence), offers the opportunity to enjoy the technical possibilities of some instruments played by the skilful Serbian artist in a mixture of baroque with Paisajes Cubanos.

Edin Karamazov (Zenica, Bosnia, 1965) is one of the most outstanding lutenists in the world, thanks to his career as classic guitarist.

He has recorded several albums as soloist, along with ancient music bands like Hilliard Ensemble, L'Arpeggiata, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Hesperion XX.

Karamazov has performed in important stages such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Berlin Philharmonie, Konzerthaus de Viena and Wigmore Hall in London.

His most recent album, The lute is a song, produced in 2009, is the result of joint work with internationally known artists like Renee Fleming, Kaliopi, Sting and Andreas Scholl.

This album included his version for the electric guitar of Paisaje Cubano con Rumba by Leo Brouwer, which will be executed in the concert in the Basilica.

A Book on Masculinity in Havana Fair

"Macho, varon, masculino" is the title of a new book to be presented at the International Book Fair of Havana, in which its author intends to dismantle old beliefs about this social phenomenon.

Written by Julio Cesar Gonzalez Pages, professor at the University of Havana and general coordinator of the Ibero-American Masculinity Network, the book attempts to discredit the evil of male chauvinism that afflicts the planet, and of which Cuba is not immune.

It also includes topics such as violence, myths about male sexuality, how we educate our sons and daughters, and other realities of men that migrated to the island and the process wherein their masculinity was inserted in Cuban society.

The book of five chapters is published by the Publisher of Women and will be released in Cuba on February 12.

Julio Cesar Gonzalez Pages has authored other books such as "En busca de un espacio: Historia de Mujeres en Cuba" (In Search of Space: History of Women in Cuba), Social Science Publishing, "Emigración de mujeres gallegas a Cuba: Las Hijas de Galicia" (Emigration of Galician women to Cuba: Galicia's daughters", Editorial EcoVigo and articles "El feminismo cubano en el siglo XIX ¿tendencia o movimiento?" (Cuban feminism in the nineteenth century.Trend or movement?)

He has taught courses and lectured at various universities in the world, and has won prizes for his works.

Jose Marti’s Works Printed in Braille for Cuban Blinds

Cuban blinds are able to read a dozen works by Jose Marti, printed in Braille in Cuba and available in special schools and reading areas for them.

Cuba began to publish books with this method by 1987 with ‘La Edad de Oro’ () followed by ‘Nuestra America’, ‘Versos Sencillos’, ‘Ismaelillo’, ‘El presidio politico en Cuba’, ‘El Manifiesto de Montecristi’, and the novel ‘Amistad Funesta’.

With this purpose, blind librarians have handcrafted his works by means of typing machines or slates, a practiced initiated in 1980 in the central Cuban province of Cienfuegos.

Marti’s works have also been recorded in tapes or CDs, and are available in the reading circles created by the Cuban National Association of the Blind.

During these days there has been an increasing demand of these materials on the occasion of the 158 anniversary of the birth of the Cuban national hero, Jose Marti.

The Chinese Opera Wu Performed in Havana

For the first time in Cuba, Opera Wu, from the Chinese province of Zhejiang made a unique performance on Sunday at the National Theater of Havana.

Chinese ambassador to Cuba Liu Yuquin took advantage of the opportunity to present Racatan Folkloric Ballet with an award recently won by the Cuban company at a festival of traditional arts held recently in the Asian nation.

With more than 400 years of tradition, Opera Wu dazzled the Cuban spectators particularly with the masks change show in which one of the actors changes his masks in a matter of seconds like a magic trick.

Founded in 1956, The Chinese company has taken its art to several Asian, European and Latin American countries. It boasts the widest range of vocal styles existing in opera houses across the world.

The Cuban audience was also astonished with the nine-part Dragon Dance interpreted by nine dancers who made incredibly fast acrobatic moves.

In the presentation of the Opera, director Chiang Go said he hoped the show increases the Cubans’ knowledge of the Chinese culture and strengthens friendship bonds between the two peoples. He wished Cubans prosperity in the Year of the Rabbit according to the traditional Chinese calendar.

Opera Wu also had street performances in Havana’s China Town last Monday.