Inspiring concert by the José White Camerata on its seventh anniversary.

The date was chosen to commemorate the death of Cuba’s most important violinist, the Matanzas-born composer of classical and popular music, José White Laffite, author of the emblematic piece «La Bella Cubana».

In the theater of the City Conservator’s Office, the José White Camerata offered an inspiring concert on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the group, recalling its first performance on that same stage, which took place under the direction of concert master Bienvenido Quintana Falcón, on March 12th, 2018.

The date was chosen to commemorate the death of Cuba’s most important violinist, the Matanzas-born composer of classical and popular music, José White Laffite, author of the emblematic piece «La Bella Cubana».

In his opening remarks, Maestro José Antonio Fernández Muñoz, the current general director of the Camerata, emphasized the imprint of Professor Quintana, recently retired, in these years of intense training of musicians, his tenacity and dedication to this project, since he is one of the most important artists of the cultural universe of Matanzas and the institution is part of the system of artistic education in the city of Matanzas.

He gave the floor to Dr. María Victoria Oliver Luis, who in a detailed talk, took the audience through the life trajectory of José White, his eminent teachers, the ties with sacred music and the flavor of Creole rhythms, which resulted in a brilliant talent, with countless awards that led him to compose and perform in the most famous monarchical and theatrical venues in Europe, Brazil and the United States, among others, during part of his existence in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The musicologist spoke of White’s continuous returns to his native soil, the concerts in Santiago de Cuba, Havana and Matanzas, his position of aid to the insurgent troops and his decision to settle in Paris, where he died in 1918.

Professor Vanessa Herrera then announced the concert, divided into two segments: the first began with «La Bella Cubana» and covered pieces from the universal repertoire, of interpretative complexity, under the baton of young guest conductor Susana Pimentel; and the second featured Vanessa’s exceptional soprano voice in two pieces of Hispanic roots, to which she added her interpretative grace.

At the end, the City Conservator, Leonel Pérez Orozco, expressed his satisfaction with the harmony achieved by a group that demands artistic consecration by its members.

Later we will inform about the immediate projects of the Camerata José White, in declarations of its director, the double bass player Tony Fernández Muñoz.

Written by María Elena Bayón.