26th Italian Culture Week in Cuba Honors Puccini on His Centenary
Commemorating the great maestro Giacomo Puccini on the centenary of his passing will be the central theme of the 26th Italian Culture Week in Cuba, taking place from November 25 to December 1 in Havana and the city of Matanzas.
A press conference held at Casa de las Tejas Verdes, led by Italian Ambassador Roberto Vellano, highlighted the 18 events planned to showcase the diversity and richness of the cultural ties between Cuba and Italy.
«We believe this year’s program lives up to tradition and the public’s expectations. Most of the events will be in Havana, but one will take place in Matanzas—the concert by pianist Ludovico Troncanetti. This year’s theme is Puccini and the centenary of his death, with various activities celebrating and honoring the work of this great Italian composer,» the ambassador stated.
Ambassador Vellano emphasized that the week’s primary goal is to foster dialogue, exchanges, and lasting relationships between artists and cultural professionals from both countries while concretely supporting Cuban culture and artists.
The press conference began with a performance by Italian accordionist Marco Lo Russo and dancers from Danza Teatro Retazos, directed by Isabel Busto. The piece, inspired by the dramatic aria Vissi d’arte from Puccini’s opera Tosca, set the tone for the upcoming celebrations.
As a prelude to the week’s events, the Made in Italy – Vissi D’Arte concert by Marco Lo Russo was held on Saturday, November 23, at the Universal Art Building of the National Museum of Fine Arts. Lo Russo’s solo accordion performance featured special participation by Danza Teatro Retazos.
Another preview event took place on Friday with the opening of Puccini, 100 años, an exhibition of 24 posters at the CartelOn Cuban Graphic Gallery. The collection includes 12 posters inspired by Puccini’s operas and 12 dedicated to his centenary, created by young Cuban designers. The exhibit invites audiences to experience operas such as La Bohème and Madame Butterfly through the lens of contemporary Cuban graphic art.
Ana Morejón, Director of International Relations at the Ministry of Culture, highlighted the significance of Italian Culture Week, the longest-running cultural week in Cuba. She noted the happy coincidence of its alignment with the 15th Havana Biennial, which also features visual artists and curators. «Once again, we welcome Italian culture as an integral part of Cuban culture and as a testament to the enduring bonds between our two nations,» she remarked.
Katia Cárdenas, Director of Cultural Management at the Office of the Historian of Havana, paid tribute to the late Dr. Eusebio Leal, the visionary behind cultural weeks with various countries and a passionate advocate for Italian culture.
Cárdenas reaffirmed the long-standing collaboration between Cuba and Italy in areas such as restoration and archaeological research, which extend to the network of heritage cities. She also highlighted the establishment of the Palacio del Segundo Cabo, a Center for the Interpretation of Cuba-Europe Relations, with Italy playing a significant role in generating projects throughout the year.
«We are deeply grateful to the ambassador for his attentive focus on the Historic Center and for choosing our institutions as hosts for most of the activities during Italian Culture Week,» she concluded.
Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez
