Classical Haitian Music from the Basilica Menor in Havana

An unusual concert of Haitian music as seen by its most academic composers, in a country where its culture is fundamentally linked to folklore and popular music, will have a unique presentation in Havana, which will be a kind of surprise for lovers of so-called concert music.

The works selected for the program will be performed for the first time in Cuba and are by composers little known in Haiti, such as Ludovic Lamothe, known as «the black Chopin» and «the last true Romantic»; Frantz Casseus; Occide Jeanty; Julio Racine, flute teacher and director of the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinité; Jules Héraux, founder and director of the Orpha Philharmonic Society;

Max Piquion, considered one of the most prolific composers of Haitian popular songs, as well as others still alive, such as orchestra conductor, composer, singer, violinist and pianist Christopher Ducasse and John Karly, the latter representing the youngest creators of the Caribbean nation.

The Cuban soloists who will take part in the first public performances of these scores in Cuban stages, which will undoubtedly show another area of Haitian music, will be pianist Vilma Garriga, concert guitarist Mabel González, violist Amaya Fuentes, cellist Vanessa Báez, double bass player Rafael Aquino, and violinists Elizabeth Yodú and Margarita Gámez.

Another attraction is not only the variety of formats, but also the beautiful songs that will transport us to the Caribbean nation through their emotions, sung in their native language, Creole, by the voices of tenor Eugenio Hernández and mezzo-soprano Merlyn Cruz.

Sponsored by the Embassy of Haiti in Havana, the Office of the Historian of the City and the CMBF Radio Musical Nacional on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the concert Haití Classical Haiti has had the close collaboration of the maestro and soprano precursor of the so-called Chanson Haïtienne, Karine Margron, who will honor us with her presence as co-director.

The presentation of Haití Clásico will take place on Thursday, May 18, at 6:00 p.m. on the stage of the Basílica Menor del Convento de San Francisco de Asís, in Old Havana, under the artistic direction of Helson Hernández.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez