[image1_left]Santiago de Cuba, Cuba – Given the world repercussions of trova music, the eastern Cuban city of Santiago de Cuba hosts every March for the past 40 years the Pepe Sánchez International Trova Festival.
The 47th Pepe Sánchez Festival takes place March 18 through the 22. The opening gala was held at the Céspedes Park on March 18. It paid homage to the late Cuban musicians Barbarito Diez, Rafael Inciarte Brioso and Manuel Gallo Atencio. The closing gala is set for Plaza de Marte square on March 22.
On March 19th, Trova Day marking the birthday anniversary of Pepe Sánchez, the program includes the usual tour on the Route of the Trova Musician in Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where many of the now-deceased greats of trova lie: Pepe Sánchez, Miguel Matamoros, Ramoncito Ivonet, Emiliano Blez, Pepe Bandera, Eulalio Limonta, Pablo Armiñán, Angel Almenares, Félix B. Caignet, Ramón Márquez Zayas and Virgilio Palais.
On that day also, there will be a special gala at the Sala Dolores. The 60th anniversary of the group Patria will also be celebrated with a gala at the Salón del Son.
The program also includes a theoretical event, hosted by the Association of Cuban Artists and Writers (UNEAC). The Festival is not confined to institutions; it goes out into the streets, parks, plazas and neighborhoods of Santiago, to workplaces, universities, conservatories, and even prisons.
This year’s event, regarded as the longest-running traditional Cuban music festival, will feature trova musicians from 10 Cuban provinces, nearly 50 musical groups and foreign guests from Mexico, Holland and Japan.
Translation: Lena B. Valverde (Cubarte)
Source: DPC Santiago de Cuba/Cubarte
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
