Renowned Cuban pianist, Chucho Valdéz, and his Chinese counterpart, Lang Lang, will give a concert on Saturday, opening with the Cuban Overture by George Gershwin.
The Cuban National Symphony, directed by renowned US conductor, Marin Alsop, will also be on hand at the concert set for Havana’s Cathedral Square.The much expected performance also includes the first movement of the Concerto Number 1 opus 23 for piano and orchestra by Piotr Ilich Tchaikovski played by the exceptional Chinese pianist. After performing the classical pieces in which the two musicians will interact with the orchestra, there will come the time when Lang Lang and Chucho Valdés will perform as soloists and a duo.
Classical and popular Cuban pieces by Cuban composers Ernesto Lecuona, Antonio María Romeu, Gonzalo Romeu, Chucho Valdés and Puerto Rico’s Rafael Hernández will be heard at the concert, such as El Cumbanchero, as well as works by US composers, such as Victory Stride by James Price Johnson and Somewhere over the rainbow by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, made famous by Judy Garland in the film the Wizard of Oz in 1939. Chucho Valdés will also be celebrating his 74th birthday.