César Portillo de la Luz -the most sung Cuban composer of all time
Havana, May 4 (RHC)-- The 9th edition of the César Portillo de la Luz singing contest, organized by the Provincial Culture Office and tenor Hugo Oslé, director of Mariana de Gonitch Singing Academy, takes place at 2:00 pm local time on May 4 and 5 at the lobby of emblematic Hotel Vedado Saint John.
In statements to the press, Oslé, said the contest is this time dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the world premiere of the tune ‘Contigo en la distancia’, written by Portillo de la Luz and which have more than 100 versions worldwide.
The event is also dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the first Arts Instructors School founded by Revolution leader Fidel Castro.
Actress Corina Mestre presides the jury, which includes also singer Vania Borges; Israel Rojas, leader of duo Buena Fe; Orlando Vistel, president of the Association of Musicians of the National Association of Writers and Artists (UNEAC) and dancer and choreographer Juan Carlos Silvera.
A total of 26 young amateur artists, representing 11 Havana municipalities, are competing this year. The jury will grant first, second and third prizes and a Grand Prix.
Italian singer Lucía Altieri announced that she will grant a collateral cash prize to the amount of 2 500 Cuban pesos. The winners will be announced on the social media platforms of the Provincial Culture Office and other cultural institutions here in Havana.
May 4, 2021, marks the ninth anniversary of the death of César Portillo de la Luz, one of the initiators of a genre dubbed Feeling, which mixed the expressive elements of Cuban trova with the emotion of the bolero.
A prolific composer, he is probably the most sung Cuban composer both on the island and abroad. Famous figures performed his songs, among them Nat King Cole, Placido Domingo, José Feliciano, José José, Pedro Vargas, Armando Manzanero, Lucho Gatica, Luis Mariano, Fernando Fernández, Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethania, Luis Miguel, Christina Aguilera and the London Symphony Orchestra.
