Habana Clásica, Cuba’s international festival of classical music will return this November for the first time since the closing of global borders due the pandemic.
The fourth edition of the festival will take place November 5–20.
Founded in 2017 by pianist Marcos Madrigal, Habana Clásica is a space par excellence where both the Cuban audience and young artists gather in the public space of the courtyard for the possibility to give, receive, confront, and grow with the chance of direct dialogue with the interpreters of classical music on an international scale.
More than just a classical music festival, this year, thanks to the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), lead donor for this edition, the event is bigger than ever.
Joining the artistic direction of Marcos Madrigal, are Deputy artistic directors Nikolay Shugaev (Russia), Luis Ernesto Doñas (Cuba) and Lissy Abreu (Cuba/Sweden).
The institution, Esteban Salas Musical Heritage of the Office of the City Historian, provides assistance and management along with the support of the Cuban Institute of Music (ICM) and the Ministry of Culture.
Habana Clásica has had a great impact on the socio-cultural reality of the city since its first edition. The encounter began with a focus on the universal chamber music repertoire. It grew in subsequent editions to become a world-class interdisciplinary project, a place in which diverse artistic manifestations intertwine and celebrate the city of Havana. Classical music is, as a perennial, enduring and enriching our reality through art.
Since the beginning of its conception, the festival is based on three aspects: the concerts, the Master Classes, and the social projects. In this year’s edition of Habana Clásica, the focus of attention on those aspects is stronger than ever.
In the first place, Habana Clásica brings together world-renowned soloists and ensembles from diverse artistic disciplines through a multitude of concerts.
And second, under the theme of Education, to extend Cuban and universal cultural heritage, classical master classes will be held to promote the art form, bringing it to a wider international audience.
Third, Habana Clásica is a social project: to organize artistic events for those who cannot attend, bringing the world of classical music to children in the pediatric ward of the Oncology Hospital, and the elderly of the Elderly Program of the Convent of Bethlehem, activities organized in collaboration with the Swiss NGO Medicuba and the Office of the City Historian.
The festival brings together different artistic events that take place in the main concert halls of the City of Havana, the City Historian’s Office: Martí Theater, Basílica Menor del Convento de San Francisco de Asís, Oratorio de La Habana Francisco de Asís, Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, Sala Cervantes, Iglesia de Paula and others.
Sponsorship is provided by the Swiss Embassy in Cuba (SDC), the Italian Embassy in Cuba, the Embassy of Holland in Cuba, MediCuba, Switzerland, the Office of the City Historian of Havana, the Cuban Institute of Music, and the Ministry of Culture and other institutions and private sponsors.
Come and immerse yourself in this world of classical music and the vibrant reality of the city, Havana. This November 5 to 20—be there.
Poster for the Habana Clasica Festival. Design: Jacalo
From our staff writers and editors.
