¡VIVA CUBA! Film and Concert

At 7pm the evening kicks off with a 1 hour screening of the rarely seen one hour film from Cuba <<Huberal Herrera – A Life in Music>> (2018. Spanish with English subtitles) followed by a presentation of songs by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona sung by Ana Maria Ruimonte accompanied by Maestro Herrera on piano from their albums. This music fuses sounds from black Africa, with European classical music and US musical theatre influences. Cuban conductor Félix Guerrero said of Lecuona: «His dances are full of pure rhythm, a rhythm that if it is not black, is creole... it is the essence of our thinking, our way of walking, of speaking, because he was always looking for the expressive scope of the culture that surrounded him.» This music will transport you into the Caribbean with its azure seas, palm trees, and eternal elegance. The film explores the musical life of Huberal Herrera, famous in Cuba as El Lecuonista for his work with and dedication to the music of Cuba’s most famous songwriter and composer, Maestro Ernesto Lecuona, a friend of George Gershwin. Then, Spanish soprano Ana María Ruimonte will perform some of Lecuona’s songs that she recorded for Owlsong in Cuba with Huberal - blending African rhythms, European classical elements, and US musical theatre influences. suggested donation $10. parking on street #ProjectSpace Project Space Gallery, 1345 W. McKinley St, Phoenix AZ 85007 USA