The National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba to Perform at Gala Celebrating Havana’s 506th Anniversary

The National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba will take center stage at a gala to mark the 506th anniversary of Havana’s founding. The event is scheduled for Sunday, November 16, at 9:00 p.m.—coinciding with the traditional cannon shot—at the Plaza de Armas in the city’s historic center.

Curated for this special occasion, the program will showcase works by Cuban composers drawn from the orchestra’s celebrated repertoire and performed under the baton of principal conductor Maestro Igor Corcuera Cáceres. The evening will open with Pregón y Danza by Maestro Enrique González Mantici, one of the orchestra’s founding members, followed by José White’s La Bella Cubana. The program continues with Gran Contradanza and Marcha Habana from the renowned zarzuela Cecilia Valdés by Gonzalo Roig, concluding with Fiesta Negra from Tres Pequeños Poemas by Amadeo Roldán.

Founded on October 7, 1959, by Law 590, the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba was envisioned as a vehicle for promoting both national and international music. As the heir to a rich symphonic tradition initiated by some of Cuba’s greatest musicians, the orchestra stands as a cornerstone of Cuban culture. Its distinguished history includes notable artistic events and collaborations with renowned musicians, soloists, and conductors, both from Cuba and abroad.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez