Craftwork Project Designated Intangible Heritage

Aimed at preserving the centuries-old craft techniques, the Cuban project "Weaving Dreams with Fibers" was recognized by the Regional Center for the Safeguard of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Latin America (CRESPIAL).


The initiative, which has planned actions in Viñales to preserve traditional craftsmanship from the 19th century, will be sponsored by the institution with a 5,000 dollars fund, promoter Nieves Lugo told Prensa Latina.


The craftwork, made with fibers of Guaniquiqui, a plant that is abundant in the western Cuban territory, is related to tobacco, a typical crop in the region.


Production of handmade baskets to store and transport the tobacco leaves, a tradition that still cultivated at present, began centuries ago in that locality, which was designated Humankind's Cultural Landscape by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).


The hats used by farmers, rattles, containers to keep bottles of liquor, and furniture are crafted there, following similar traditions.

A Website is Launched on Upcoming Pope’s Visit

Cuba launched an official website (http://benedictocuba.cubaminrex.cu/) prior to the upcoming visit to the Caribbean nation of Pope Benedict XVI.

The website, hosted by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, includes detailed information on the Pope’s scheduled three-day visit to Santiago de Cuba and Havana on March 26-28.

It also offers details on topics such as the organization of the Catholic Church in Cuba, the Vatican, Pope John Paul II’s 1998 trip to Cuba, and preparation works currently underway at Havana’s Revolution Square —where the Pope will celebrate a Mass.

The website also has biographical information on Cuban priest Felix Varela, who is being considered for Canonization as a Catholic Saint.

The Archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino, addressed the Cuban people on Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit during a national television broadcast scheduled for 8:30 pm local time last night.

Cuban Musicians Advocate for More Cuban Music

Popular Cuban musicians, like Juan Formell and Jose Luis Cortes, advocated here to defend and resize the dance genres of the island in the face of the avalanche of foreign rhythms alien to the native idiosyncrasy.


Meeting at Havana's Rum Museum for the recent launching of the book The Kings of the Salsa, by Rafael Lam, prominent musicians like Moises Valle (Yumuri), Miguel Angel Rasalp (Lele), Pedro Calvo, and Eliades Ochoa, agreed on the need of promoting Cuban popular music more.


Cortes and a group of young musicians gave a sort of impromptu song recital, followed by the vocal improvisation of some of the meeting's participants.


Two veteran pianists, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Lazaro Valdes, also performed at the gathering, showing the popular fondness for their music.


It is time to put Cuban music very high, said Lam prior to the concert, and stressed that it was the music which gave the people their identity, unity, and happiness.

Again French Opera Musicians Perform in Cuba

A selection of musicians from the Rouen Opera Orchestra, France, will give a concert in Cuba on March 2 and 3, as part of cultural exchange between the European country and Cuba.


The first concert will be held in the Cuban province of Matanzas, and the second is scheduled at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Havana, told reporters the Cuban clarinetist, who lives in France, Lester Chio.


Chio, project developer, said he and the musicians invited French Florent Audibert (cello) and Hel ine Bordeaux (violin) will offer a recital that includes a varied repertoire.


Giving details of the program, Chio said that it includes works by Antonin Dvorak, Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang A. Mozart and Sergei Prokofiev.


Chio said that with the support of the Cuban Institute of Music and the National Center of Concert Music, all the members of the Orchestra of the Opéra de Rouen will visit Cuba in 2013.


This time we want to offer a series of concerts linked to educational meetings, Chio added.

A Symbolic Street in our City

I was reading what a colleague wrote in a very sympathetic and critical way about the current state of Reina Street in the heart of Havana.

My youth is closely linked to that street, ‘cause every day I walked around, visiting friends, and spent much time with my group of friends in the so called "Yogurt Corner" in the convergence with Escobar Street. Let’s take a look to what my colleague said.

This is not an epoch of kings and queens. Maybe that’s why crud and collapsing buildings are what reigns on this street where, despite it all, one can still find true architectural beauty.

You only have to walk slowly so your eyes reach the points where the columns of the porticos end. That’s where there still remain classical Baroque or Gothic elements.

This is Reina Street, where commerce once flourished in trades of all types.

Today there are still a few shops and some thriving independently owned businesses, though all of them have a faded look. They suffer from both the soot and long-term neglect.

Recently some of them were given a fresh coat of green paint in an effort to remedy what had been left in the hands of time.

It’s a relief to people’s eyes, even though we know the paint won’t last longer than the next good rain. It does little more than hide moisture built up in the walls, the catalyst of the collapse that can occur at any moment in yet another building here.

In any case, going up and down Reina Street is a must if you visit Havana.

Carlos Varela Cancels His Concert

The famous trovador Cuban singer Carlos Varela canceled a concert that would take place tomorrow 14th February at the Salon El Chévere in Almendares Club here in our capital, due to increased ticket prices without his consent.

"Management of the place decided to breach with this agreement unilaterally (to keep ticket prices as affordable as possible) and offering the tickets to the concert along with an offer of dinner for that day at prices far above the purchasing power of most people who attend these concerts. "

The cancellation was known by an official note from the singer’s office, which specifies that Varela had chosen this place ‘cause of its large capacity of public and the technical conditions.

Cuban Youth Dedicates Songs to Love

The Cuban youth sang to love during the "All You Need Is Love" concert, which was named after John Lennon''s anthological song and invited everyone to unite in the name of that feeling on Friday.



Several Cuban singer songwriters, led by Raul Torres, made a call to love and friendship in a concert at Havana's Cuba Pavilion that was broadcast live on the Internet and social networks.



The concert belongs to you; you will be the singers, poets, stars, the author of "Candil de Nieve and "Se Fue" told the audience before inviting them to send public messages to their beloved ones.



Inspired lovers sent their phrases of affection and friendship to the stage, while social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube reached beyond Cuban borders to share the songs with people from all over the world.



Several youths interviewed said that, in addition to enjoying the art of talented musicians, they attended the concert to promote a unifying sentiment among human beings, regardless of their origin, beliefs or political affiliation.



All we need is love, said a student from the University of Havana, paraphrasing the title of the song, so "love is precisely the best reason to get together at a time when the planet needs it so much".



Before the beginning of the show, some Twitter posts read Cuban youths celebrate love at #conciertodelamor about to begin, or #conciertodelamor to begin in minutes, as expressions of the expectations on site spread by social networks.