Cuban orchestra conductor stands out with world premiere in Panama 

Panama City, Jul 25 (RHC) Famed orchestra conductor Guido Lopez Gavilan, from Cuba, today grabbed all the attention with the presentation in Panama of a world premiere at the XVIII Alfredo de Saint Malo International Music Festival.

In one of his galas at the headquarters of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino), López Gavilán presented his work “Divertimento for violin, cello and orchestra”.

This work was specially composed and performed as soloists by Panamanian musicians and brothers Isaac Casal (cello) and Luis Casal (violin), president and vice-president respectively of the Fundación Sinfonía Concertante de Panamá, which sponsored this event with academic music.

A display of virtuosity by local performers marked this moment of a varied repertoire brought by the Chamber Orchestra Música Eterna, from the largest of the Antilles, under the baton of López Gavilán, made up of young talents such as violinist Rosany Paz, among others.

In statements to Prensa Latina, the also member of the College of Latin American Composers of Music of Arts, expressed his pleasure to participate in this festival dedicated to the youth and to bring “the soul of our people turned into sound”, he said when referring to the interpreted themes.

The also multi-awarded conductor and the string orchestra of the Caribbean nation also honored the guest composer of this XVIII Festival, Panamanian Ricardo Risco, by presenting the work “Remembranzas”, a compilation of five songs performed by Mexican soprano Rosario Dávila.

Risco, assistant director of the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama and professor of the Superior Cycle, National Institute of Music, stressed the impressive level and quality of the Cuban musicians and urged a greater attendance of the public to know the present of this type of genre.

For his part, Casal, also artistic director of the Festival, praised López Gavilán as an excellent figure of academic music, and of the group that for the second time participates in this type of event, while noting that Cuban musicians came to give prestige to this new edition.

During the gala, simultaneously to the performance of the Cubans, the young plastic artist Sofía Guerra, from the Ganexa Art University, captured in a canvas the sensorial perception from her relation from a scale of tones and colors with the rhythms and melodies interpreted by the Caribbean group.

The XVIII Academic Music Festival was attended by creators from some thirty countries, including the United States, Colombia, Argentina, Russia, Italy and Cuba, among others.

Other talented musicians such as the young American violinist Eric Silberger and the Venezuelan baritone Gaspar Colón stood out in the gala concerts, didactic meetings and workshops.

The festival was also attended by guest conductors such as Darwin Aquino, Camilo Téllez, Adam Eccleston, Xiomara González and Víctor Mata.

The inclusion of the Children's Orchestra in this year's program added an exciting and enriching element to the XVIII Festival, which closes its doors next Sunday, according to its organizers. (Source: Prensa Latina)