Concert in Havana Featuring Iconic Music from Ecuador

Jewels of Ecuador is the title of the concert dedicated to composers and melodies from that country, to be held on July 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Ignacio Cervantes concert hall in Old Havana.

The concert comprises works of great cultural significance for Ecuador, ranging from traditional songs to those by contemporary composers, according to Helson Hernández, who is in charge of the artistic direction and production.

The selection of pieces highlights one of Ecuador’s indigenous musical genres, the pasillo, considered the soul of this Latin American nation and declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2021.

“Cuban soloists will alternate in a program performing famous songs that were popularized by Julio Jaramillo, known as the Nightingale of the Americas, as well as works by Aparicio Córdoba, Lauro Dávila, Jorge Araujo, Carlos Rubira Infante, Gerardo Guevara, and many others who create an intriguing array of sounds that will bring us closer to the South American nation,” says Helson Hernández.

“The lineup features guitarist Mabel González, violinist Elizabeth Yodú leading her string quintet, pianists Vilma Garriga and Rosa García Oropesa, as well as opera singers Giselle Polanco (mezzo-soprano), Tiffany Hernández (soprano), and tenors Jorge Luis Guzmán and César Vázquez,” he concludes.

Sponsored by the Embassy of Ecuador in Cuba and the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana, the recital will take place in the aforementioned concert hall located on the third floor of the Palacio de los Matrimonios in Old Havana, at 302 Prado, corner of Ánimas.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez