Cubadisco 2016 wraps up in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, May 23 (acn) The 20th International Fair Cubadisco 2016 came to an end yesterday through the premiere of the concert Symphonic Formell at the Covarrubias Hall of the National Theater.

The National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestros José Antonio Mendez and Joaquín Betancourt, presented to the public from Havana versions of Juan Formell´s works, tribute that featured outstanding Cuban musicians.

For over a week, the most important and unique event dedicated to promoting Cuban musical production presented a diverse program that included concerts, tributes, presentations of albums and audiovisuals in several areas of Havana.

Very special moments marked this Cubadisco 2016, including concerts by the legendary orchestra Buena Vista Social Club at Karl Marx Theater, in what was the farewell from stage of the group.

The activities also included the release of the album Tronco Viejo, by Dominican singer Johnny Ventura, who received a Special Award for this phonogram and the concert in tribute to Elio Reve Matos offered by Reve Orchestra and guest artists.

There were also significant the performances of the Santiaguero Septet and Dominican salsa singer Jose Alberto "El Canario" at the Avellaneda Hall, and the special presentation of the project Symphonic Bossa Nova, a group that offered the public the repertoire of Brazilian music.

There were many materials presented to the contest and more than 100 opted for the prize in different categories, in which it excelled the work of Musical Recordings and Editions Company (EGREM by its Spanish acronym), Bis Music and Colibri record labels, and other foreign and independent labels.

A new edition of the International Symposium took place from May 17 to 19 at the Center for Research and Development of Cuban Music, in which musicologists, developers and other specialists discussed about the popular dancing music.

Cubadisco 2016 had as Presidents of Honor the musicians Adalberto Alvarez and Elio Reve.

The event was again the king of Cuban discography and music in general, with an ambitious program, and it went beyond its foundational framework for achieving becoming into a massive cultural fact.