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Havana, June 16 (RHC)-- The 36th Boleros de Oro Festival began Thursday in Havana. Running through Sunday, June 18th, the event is this time dedicated to Cuban musician Eusebio Delfín on his 130th birthday anniversary, singer Esther Borja on his 110th birthday anniversary, and to the 100th birthday anniversary of Cuban singer, dancer and actress Rosita Fornés and Dominican musician Alberto Beltrán.
The program includes special galas dedicated to Cuban singer Elena Burke and singer-songwriters Pacho Alonso, and Pablo Milanés.
The Boleros de Oro Colloquium will debate the origin and evolution of bolero.
Ana Iris Blanco, the executive secretary of the Music Section of UNEAC, pointed to yet other tributes to singer Mundito González, who celebrates 60 years of artistic career, as well as to María Elena Pena, Emilia Morales and Maureen Iznaga.
The lineup includes renowned established and young Cuban and foreign exponents of the music genre from Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Argentina, notably Cuban singers Héctor Téllez, Raquel Hernández and Beatriz Márquez.
Teatro Nacional will host the galas and concerts. Other venues include Teatro América, Casa del Alba Cultural, the Hurón Azul museum and the headquarters of the National Association of Writers and Artists (UNEAC).
First held in 1987, the Boleros de Oro Festival is held every other year, sponsored by the Music Section of UNEAC.
In statements to Cuban press, the festival’s founding director, maestro José Loyola, recalled that Bolero emerged in the late 19th century in eastern Santiago de Cuba. One of its first, great exponents was José ‘Pepe’ Sánchez, author of the first ever bolero tune ‘Tristeza’. Bolero experienced an instant boom across Cuba and Latin America, particularly in Mexico.
Declared Cultural Heritage of the Cuban Nation, a campaign is currently underway, with Cuba and Mexico jointly requesting UNESCO to include Bolero on its prestigious list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
