Mozart Habana and older persons are the focus of the Cultural Programme of the Historical Centre of Havana

The Cultural Programme of the Historian’s Office of the City of Havana is dedicating this month’s activities to Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, the Father of the Homeland.

On 10 October 1968, this institution, then headed by Eusebio Leal Spengler, organised a commemorative event to mark the centenary of the uprising led by Céspedes that led to Cuba’s independence.  The ceremony has become a tradition and since then, every 9th October, so as not to detract from the one held in Bayamo, a tribute is paid to this great patriot.

The offering is placed at the foot of the sculpture in the Plaza de Armas, which has occupied the pedestal where Ferdinand VII stood since 27 February 1955. At the time, its replacement was considered an act of justice and the work of Havana’s first historian, Emilio Roig de Leuchsenring. Over time, the site has become a permanent tribute to Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and the true spirit of Cuban independence.

Mozart’s music and Intenational Day of Older Persons

October’s cultural programme also includes the Havana Mozart Festival and the International Day of Older Persons, which began on the first day of the month.

This major musical event pays tribute to the legacy of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It will take place at the San Felipe Neri Oratory, the Ignacio Cervantes Hall, the Basílica Menor de San Francisco de Asís, the Church of Santa Paula and the Cathedral of the Holy and Metropolitan Church of Havana.

The International Day of Older Persons is celebrated on 1 October around the world and is dedicated to healthy ageing and empowerment in this stage of life.

The activities include musical, literary and theatrical events, conferences, competitions and meetings. They will continue until 7 October.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez