From October 2 to 5, Havana will host the 37th edition of the Boleros de Oro International Festival, a must-attend event for devotees of the Bolero, a genre that has captivated generations with its lyrical depth and emotional resonance.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s festival celebrates two milestones: the 95th birthday of Cuban icon Omara Portuondo and the 75th anniversary of Cuban Television, honoring the Bolero\u2019s enduring legacy as a cherished cultural and emotional cornerstone of Cuba and Latin America.<\/p>\n
Organized by the Musicians\u2019 Association of Cuba\u2019s National Union of Writers and Artists (Uneac), the festival will bring together artists from Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina for a vibrant program featuring gala performances, panel discussions, intimate concerts, and open jam sessions.<\/p>\n
At a press conference held Friday at Uneac\u2019s Rub\u00e9n Mart\u00ednez Villena Hall, festival director Jos\u00e9 Loyola emphasized the event\u2019s deep ties to Cuban musicology, rooted in the intellectual and cultural traditions championed by Argeliers Le\u00f3n. Le\u00f3n\u2019s rigorous scholarship and holistic approach to Afro-Cuban music and traditional genres helped elevate the Boleros as both art and cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
Mabel Castillo, head of the Musicians\u2019 Association, noted that this edition holds special significance as the first since the Boleros was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The festival will also pay tribute to pivotal figures in the genre\u2019s history, including Manuel Corona, Ernesto Lecuona, Barbarito Diez, Paulina \u00c1lvarez, Moraima Secada, and Adolfo Guzm\u00e1n.<\/p>\n
The Boleros de Oro International Symposium, held at Uneac\u2019s Villena Hall on October 2 and 3, will offer two days of reflection. Coordinated by Neris Gonz\u00e1lez Bello, chair of the Academic Committee, the symposium aims to engage not only seasoned Boleros artists and audiences but also younger generations, including music academy students and graduates.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program underscores its value by bringing together composers, record producers, musicians, collectors, researchers, community leaders, and experts who contributed to the UNESCO nomination process for the Bolero\u2019s inclusion on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,\u201d Gonz\u00e1lez Bello said. Discussions will explore the Bolero\u2019s presence in media, its ties to the music industry, and hands-on workshops to bridge theory and practice. Attendees can also look forward to screenings, including the documentary Voces del Feeling by Rosal\u00eda Arn\u00e1ez and Maril\u00fa Mac\u00edas.<\/p>\n
The festival\u2019s main stage at the National Theater\u2019s Covarrubias Hall will host three thematic galas: Moments of Bolero, Omara of Cuba, and The Music of Adolfo Guzm\u00e1n. Performances at the Am\u00e9rica Theater will spotlight emerging Bolero artists and honor legends like Ernesto Lecuona, Manuel Corona, and other revered performers.<\/p>\n
Additional venues, including the Hur\u00f3n Azul Patio, Plaza\u2019s House of Culture, Caf\u00e9 Miramar, Casa de 18, Arte Habana, BuleBar 66, and Caf\u00e9 Concert Gato Tuerto, will come alive with afternoons and evenings of Bolero, poetry, and impromptu jam sessions.<\/p>\n
More than a music festival, Boleros de Oro is a vibrant platform for cultural preservation, where emotional memories are transformed into living art.<\/p>\n
Organizers expressed gratitude to supporting institutions, including the Havana Provincial Culture Directorate, the Plaza de la Revoluci\u00f3n Municipal Directorate, the Cuban Music Institute, the Center for Research and Development of Cuban Music, the Institute of Information and Social Communication, Artex S.A., Paradiso Agency, and Prelasa. Their contributions reaffirm the Boleros as an expression of sensitivity, identity, and emotional resilience in an ever-changing world.<\/p>\n
Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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