The Havana Festival of Contemporary Music, one of the most prestigious international events organized for more than three decades by the Association of Musicians of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) and the Cuban Institute of Music, is back in Cuba's cultural life. 

Chaired by maestro Guido López-Gavilán, the music event will take place from 16 to 22 November in the Basílica Menor del Convento de San Francisco de Asís, the Hart Thereat of the José Martí National Library, and the National Museum of Music, where the academic meeting will be held. 

The festival will dedicate its edition to the maestros Hilario González and Nilo Rodríguez on the centenary of their births, and the 50th anniversary of the National Music Museum. It will also celebrate the 120th anniversary of the José Martí National Library and the 45th anniversary of the creation of the University of the Arts of Cuba, known as the Higher Institute of Art (ISA). 

A special tribute will be paid to the Cuban musical avant-garde, which is celebrating six decades, and to one of its founders, maestro Juan Blanco, who was ahead of his time in the use of electro-acoustic instruments. 

The opening concert on Tuesday 16, at 6:00 p.m., on the stage of the Basílica Menor del Convento de San Francisco de Asís, will feature performances by Anolan González (viola); Lisa María Blanco (piano); Dúo Promúsica; Dúo Ondina; Trío Dulcián; Quinteto Ventus Habana, and the Orquesta de Cámara de La Habana. 

The repertoire to be performed includes works by Alfredo Diez Nieto, Nilo Rodríguez, Juan Piñera, Guido López-Gavilán, Bárbara Llanes, Roberto Valera, Víctor García Pelegrín, Jorge Amado, Wilma Alba Cal, Alejandro Falcón and Jorge López Marín. 

The inaugural invitation promises several premieres, among them, the first world premiere of Dos miradas for flute, violin and piano by maestro Juan Piñera, performed by the Duo Promúsica, made up of Alfredo Muñoz on violin and María Victoria del Collado on piano, together with flutist Niurka González. 

According to the maestro Alfredo Muñoz, the work is excellent, very complex with high technical requirements, and was created last year, a piece that emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic and they have been working on it throughout this period. 

Dos miradas para flauta, violín y piano, presents in the first piece, dedicated to the maestro Leo Brouwer, a visit to passages from the work of the great Cuban composer, guitarist, and orchestra conductor. Meanwhile, the second piece, dedicated to the renowned pianist Vladimir Horowitz, recreates Vers la flamme (Towards the flame), opus 72 by the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, written in 1914. 

But the Duo Promúsica's presentation also includes a tribute to composer and teacher Nilo Rodríguez. Sonata habanera will be performed by the composer, who was the founding director of the National School of Art. 

At the end of the day the Havana Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Daiana García, and this duo of prestigious chamber music maestros are preparing a surprise performance. It is a habanera by Aldo López-Gavilán Junco, a tribute to the Wonder City on its 502nd anniversary. 

The opening performance will also pay tribute to the founder of the Grupo Renovación Musical, composer, pianist, teacher, and researcher Hilario González, with performances by soprano Bárbara Llanes and pianist Mayté Aboy.  

The Havana Festival of Contemporary Music offers around thirty premieres, and twenty-six of them are world premieres, featuring chamber music and soloist formats.