What’s On Havana, listings and reviews of cultural events in Havana, updated monthly, Havana events and schedules and timetables for nightlife and cultural events

Visual Arts

	Boca Abajo Galería La Acacia	Throughout September, 2010
	A number of works by indispensable names in Cuba’s art scene of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Servando Cabrera Moreno, René Portocarrero, Mariano Rodríguez, Florencio Gelabert, Pedro Pablo Oliva, Tomás Esson and Rocío García, have been assembled in this exhibition whose imperative is eroticism.

Jorge Rigol, vanguardia y tradición. Dibujos y grabados 1934-1969

	Jorge Rigol, vanguardia y tradición. Dibujos y grabados 1934-1969 Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Arte Cubano)	Throughout September, 2010
	A tribute to the draughtsman, engraver, illustrator and art critic Jorge Rigol, who assimilated the contributions of the first avant-garde in the island in line with a true Cuban character.

	Gráfica alemana actual Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Arte Universal)	Throughout September, 2010
	Illustrations and posters by renowned German artists. The works are divided into two series: posters by the activist, publicist and designer Klaus Staeck, important poster artist of postwar Germany; and the portfolio Projekt Flagge Zeigen (Táking Sides) prepared after the German reunification in 1990.

	Sexinética III Villa Manuela	Throughout September, 2010
	Fifteen works of different sizes and materials by sculptor Osneldo García, National Visual Arts Prize- Winner 2003, who is recognized as a forerunner of kinetic art, performance and installations in the island, and whose works, made of metal or wood, have a good deal of eroticism and humour, which is considered one of the most significant contributions of this Cuban artist.

	Erotic Organic Palacio de Lombillo	Throughout September, 2010
	A “complete” eroticism takes possession of the works by artist Pedro Pulido and is transmitted through sight and hearing to the recipients. In his own words, “Elves of unpredictable, physical and empty shapes prey upon me. Shapes that may trap the physical and mental space of a public that is apprehended in the daily routine, which is only relieved on special Sundays, festivities, births or funerals, but it is …in that routine, those empty spaces where my elves occupy mind and body…through my sculptures, evoking love, fantasies, eroticism, lack of inhibition, playing the true role of getting close to the viewers.”

	Landscapes ya Galería Habana	Throughout September, 2010
	Faithful to the will of delving into the crisis inherent to contemporaneity, Agustín Bejarano, one of the most significant figures of Cuban visual arts today, exhibits large-scale works in which the human figure, a constant theme in his work, disappears before the landscape, because the artist considers that “landscape has succumbed to vacuity and futility; the term itself evokes the financial part, easy art and this is why I wish to cleanse its image, giving it a profound profile making it interesting and questioning. I want to represent my beliefs and what inspires me; the impairment of climate, the issues connected to ecology and the slack attitude of man in the face of these situations.”

	Festival de las Artes Proposiciones Parque Martí (calle G esquina a Malecón)	Opens 4 Sep 2010, morning
	Under the slogan “For a live planet,” this event, which will hopefully be held annually in other parts of Cuba, will gather musicians and visual artists in a program that includes workshops, concerts, exhibitions and games aimed at respect for human diversity, Nature and the community.

	Group Exhibition Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales	Throughout September, 2010
	Important exhibition from the collection of the Consejo Nacional de las Artes Plásticas, with over 100 works-sculptures, drawings, paintings, engravings, photographs and collages-by 85 of the most important Cuban artists, from the classics to the first avant-garde, including many who have been distinguished with the National Visual Arts Prize, such as Raúl Martínez, Rita Longa, Alfredo Sosabravo, Manuel Mendive, Roberto Fabelo Pedro Pablo Oliva, José Villa and Nelson Domínguez, and representatives of the younger generations of artists the island.

	Voy a ser Breve Galería Servando	Throughout September, 2010
	Acrylic paintings by the young and prolific artist Michel Pérez who explores all things ludic, childish, primitive…

¿Qué Es lo que Hace a los Espejismos de Hoy tan Diferentes, tan Atractivos?

	¿Qué Es lo que Hace a los Espejismos de Hoy tan Diferentes, tan Atractivos? Galería Factoría Habana	Throughout September, 2010
	A collective exhibition by artists Gisele Beigelmann, Joan Fontcuberta, David Trujillo, Lino Lago, Glenda León, Gisela Motta & Leandro Navarro, and Enrique Marty from Latin America and Spain According to its curator, Claudia Giannetti, the exhibit, “deals with the notions and systems that support the construction of realities in today’s world, besides exploring the potential idiosyncrasies of the digital era. In this sense, the art of deception--with the dual facet of deceiving and being deceived (consciously or unconsciously)—becomes the articulating idea of this exhibition.”

Music

	En la Basílica Basílica Menor de San Francisco de Asís Oficios y Churruca, La Habana Vieja Tel. +(53) 7 862 9683	6:00 pm / 2009
	4 Sep 2010 Lisandra Rodríguez will pay tribute to famous Cuban composers including Harold Gramatges and Argeliers León, members of the Musical Renovation Group, who in the 1940s became the avant-garde of classical music; Leo Brouwer, perhaps Cuba’s greatest musician of all time; and Luis Ernesto Peña, Alejandro Falcón and Yanier Echevarría, a new generation composers. 11 Sep 2010, 6:00 pm The yoiung and many-time prize-winning pianist Aldo López-Gavilán, and his special guest, the saxophonist Roberto Martínez, will play his own compositions. 18 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Debussy, Chopin and Schumann played by Evelio Tieles at the violin and Yamilé Cruz at the piano. 23 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Concert by the Japanese pianist Junko Ueno Garret. 25 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Frank Fernández, one of the most outstanding Cuban pianists today, will play Beethoven for piano solo and piano with orchestra, accompanied by the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional conducted by Enrique Pérez Mesa.

	Gerardo Alfonso y su grupo Bar La Cañitas, Hotel Habana Libre Calle Lesquina a 23, El Vedado	11 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	A meeting with this very much liked singer-songwriter whose nonconformist and demystifying songs, dedicated either to Ernesto Che Guevara or Havana (“white sheets hanging from the balconies”), have become hymns for a large sector of Cuban youth.

	Peña del Ambia Hurón Azul, Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC) Calle 17 esquina a H, El Vedado Tel. +(53) 7 832 4551-53	8, 22 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	The best place to go for those seeking to become acquainted with authentic African-Cuban traditions, hosted by the poet Eloy Machado, aka. El Ambia.

	El Jardín de la Gorda Centro Iberoamericano de la Décima Calle A entre 25 y 27, El Vedado	26 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	Sara González, emblematic voice of the Cuban Nueva Trova, at her monthly gatherings where the audiences can enjoy, in an informal atmosphere, the performances of some of the best Cuban troubadours.

	Sigo Aquí Sala Atril, Teatro Karl Marx Calle 1ra y 8, Miramar Tel. +(53) 7 203 0801 / 209 1991	3, 10, 17, 24 Sep, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm / 2010
	Café concert with the versatile singer and composer Anabell López, a favorite of many composers of different styles thanks to her beautiful and melodious voice and strong stage presence.

	Peña de Rochy Balneario Universitario El Coral Calle 1ra. esquina a 42, Miramar	29 Sep, 8:30 pm / 2010
	Performance by Cuban singer Rochy with her group and guests.

	La Tanda Centro Cultural Fresa y Chocolate	2, 9, 16, 13 y 30 Sep, 8:30 pm
	Inti Santana, a troubadour of the younger generations, in an informal get-together.

	Peña de Los Kents Café Cantante, Teatro NacionalCalle Paseo y 39, El Vedado Tel. +(53) 7 870 4651	5, 12, 19, 26 Sep, 4:00 pm / 2010
	Los Kents, another “dinosaur” of Cuban rock, play their own hits from the 60s and 70s.

	Rubén Moro y Kora Centro Hispano-Americano de Cultura	25 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	Concierto del trovador y su proyecto Kora, agrupación vocal-instrumental que fusiona la música cubana con el blues, el jazz o el pop en piezas de un cuidado trabajo de voces

	La vuelta al musical en 70 minutos Anfiteatro de La Habana Vieja Avenida del Puerto entre Cuba y Peña Pobre, La Habana Vieja Tel. +(53) 7 33 1718	Through 12 Sep, Sat & Sun, 9:00 pm / 2010
	Around Musicals in 70 Minutes is the suggestive name of Alfonso Menéndez’s latest work, a tour of famous works, many of them based on the animated film versions—The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Beauty and the Beast, Anastasia, The Lion King, Hercules, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. The beautiful and suggestive music, the excellent performances by young actors and the splendid costumes all enhance this production which will probably run until the end of the summer.

	Noche de Boleros Hurón Azul, Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC) Calle 17 esquina a H, El Vedado Tel. +(53) 7 832 4551-53	7, 14, 21, 28 Sep, 10:00 pm / 2010
	Lovers of this romantic genre par excellence have the opportunity of meeting and enjoying the performances of the best Cuban boleristas.

	Descarga de Ivette Cepeda y su Grupo Snack Bar of the Telégrafo Hotel. (For reservations, call 861 1010 or at the hotel desk)	3 Sep, 8:00 pm / 2010
	Descarga de Ivette Cepeda y su Grupo. An informal meeting with the versatile contralto Ivette Cepeda, who has been much celebrated thanks to the subtleties she brings to her voice and her wide repertory of Cuban and international music.

	Trovando Patio-bar of the EGREM record label San Miguel 410 entre Campanario y Lealtad, Centro Habana Tel. +(53) 7 862 0673	1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Sep, 4:00 pm / 2010
	A place where troubadours and poets get together for a unique performance in a bohemian atmosphere, combined with the launching and sale of record albums, books and magazines.

	La Trova sin Traba Hurón Azul, Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC) Calle 17 esquina a H, El Vedado Tel. +(53) 7 832 4551-53	1, 15 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	Different generations and styles converge in a natural combination of traditional, new and very new trova.

	Trovadores y poeta Centro Hispano-Americano Culture	24 Sep, 5:00 pm /2010
	Concert by Basque troubadour Ruper Ordorika, Cuban troubadour Ray Fernández and poet Bladimir Zamora.

	Verdadero Complot Third Saturday of the month, 4:00 pm / 2010 Centro Hispano Americano de Cultura Malecón 17 entre Prado y Genio, Centro Habana Tel. +(53) 7 860 6282	18 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	Aspace for young trova talents, and the live recordings of their performances. This month with thetrovadora from Holguín province, Aliannys Abad Bonet

	Peña de Lynn Milanés y su grupo Centro Cultural Fresa y Chocolate Calle 23 esquina a 12, El Vedad	4, 11, 18, 25 Sep, 6:30 pm / 2010
	Lynn Milanés—daughter of the famour singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés—with a selection of well-liked Cuban songs, which range from bolero to pop.

	Peña de Pancho Amat Sede provisional del Museo Nacional de la MúsicaObrapía 509, entre Bernaza y Villegas, La Habana Vieja	19 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	The popular tres player Pancho Amat and Cabildo del Son with a sample of the most Cuban ofCuban song and dance styles, son.

	Ireno García Sala Manuel Galich, Casa de las Américas	29 Sep, 4:00 pm / 2010
	Concert by trovador Ireno García and his group.

	Peña de Manuel Argudín Agencia Cubana de Derecho de Autor Musical	25 Sep, 6:00 pm / 2010
	With his powerful, expressive voice and smooth guitar playing, Manuel Argudín sings Cuban trova songs of all time.

	Neo Tango Teatro América	8, 17, 18 Sep, 8:30 pm; 19 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	The evolution of the Argentinean tango through different perspectives, including habaneras, milongas, Andalusian tanguitos and Afro rhythms.

	Galas a los orichas Ochún y Yemayá Casa de África	8 and 24 Sep, 3:00 pm / 2010
	Gala performances dedicated to the gods Ochún and Yemayá (8th), and Obbatalá 24th).

	Concerts Teatro América	10, 12 Sep, 8:30 pm / 2010
	10 Sep: Anónimo Consejo 11 Sep: Pablo Menéndez y su grupo 12 Sep: Rand B

	Rock concerts Maxim Rock	Thu-Sat, 8:00; Sun, 4:00 pm / 2010
	Fri 10: Magnum and Odisea Sat 11: Chlover, Blood Heresy and Treatment Choice Sun 12: Hot Zone and Switch Thu 16: Tesis de Menta Fri 17: Congregation Sat 18: Hipnosis Sun 19: Extraño Corazón and Mente Abierta Thu 23: Aria Fri 24: Estigma DC Sat 25: Zeus Sun 26: Anima Mundi Thu 30: Qva Libre

	Brutal Fest 2010 Maxim Rock	Thu-Sat, 8:00; Sun, 4:00 pm / 2010
	Second edition of a festival that insists on letting the world know that Cuban popular music is not only salsa and reggaeton and that heavy metal has an enthusiastic following. Thu 2: Destronork (Switzerland), Stortregn (France) and Ancestor (Cuba) Fri 3: Sedative (France), F.O.A.D. (France) and Jeffrey Dahmer (Cuba) Sat 4: Cardiac (Switzerland), Deadly Sin Orgy (Switzerland) and Combat Noise (Cuba) Sun 5: Destronork (Switzerland), Stortregn (France), Sedative (France), F.O.A.D. (France), Cardiac (Switzerland), Deadly Sin Orgy (Switzerland) and Escape (Cuba)

	Vania Borges - Cubana como la Palma	25 Sep, 8:30 pm / 2010
	The excellent singer Vania Borges will celebrate 20 years of her artistic career with the concert As Cuban as the Palm Tree.

	Pupy y los que Son Son Teatro América	5 Sep, 5:00 pm / 2010
	Concert by the popular band Pupy y los que Son Son

	Iglesia de San Francisco de Paula Temporada Septiembre Barroco	7:00 pm / 2010
	3 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Música Antigua Cantiga Armónica Ensemble, directed by Natasha Prado, will perform works by Lully, Händel, Tarquinio Merula, Tomasso Cechino, Bach and Henry Purcell. 10 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Concert by the Ars Nova ensemble with a selection of works from Baroque composers, including Vivaldi, Raffaello Rontani, Arcangelo del Leuto and William Babel. 17 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Conciertos y cantatas del barroco europeo [Concerts and Cantatas of European Baroque] by the Ars Longa Early Music Ensemvle directed by Teresa Paz. 24 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Stabat Mater, considered Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s finest work for chorus and orchestra, will be performed by the Exsulten Early Music Ensemble from the eastern city of Bayamo..

	Oratorio San Felipe Neri Oratorio San Felipe Neri	7:00 pm / 2010
	2 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm The show Del teatro musical will offer a panorama of opera, operetta, zarzuela and the musical, with arias, romances and duets by soloists from the Teatro Lírico Nacional and guests. 4, 7 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Concert by the soprano Elena Lydia Stamellou, from Greece, accompanied by the pianist Yamilé Cruz. 9 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Lírica Intramuros in concert with the Spanish zarzuela Luisa Fernanda, performed by Junior Luis, Yilam Sartorio, Carlos Laurencio and Indira Echevarría, accompanied by the pianist Loraine Arocha. 11 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Concert by the excellent Cuban soprano and teacher María Eugenia Barrios. 23 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Lírica Intramuros will dedicate this performance to the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great Polish Romantic Frédéric Chopin with a concert by Yilam Sartorio, Mónica Martinez and Rigoberto López, directed by Valenti Figueredo, and pianists Marta Bonachea and Fran Paredes. 25 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Voces Nuevas, a space for young hopes of Cuban opera 27 Sep 2010, 7:00 pm Tribute to Cuban composer Harold Gramatges, first musician to be awarded the prestigious Tomás Luis de Victoria Award.

Theatre

	Midsummer Night’s Dream Teatro Nacional de Cuba	Fri & Sat, 8:30 pm; Sun, 5:00 pm
	Poet, critic and playwright Norge Espinosa’s version of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream has been an excellent vehicle for young graduates of the Arts Institute to make their debut with Teatro El Público, one of the most important Cuban theatre companies today. One actress has summarized the spirit that has reigned in this production: “Although this play was written hundreds of years ago, we still have the same conflicts--we continue to fall in love, to reject, to feel jealous…The characters have a lot in common with us and I believe that this is what connects us with Shakespeare.”

	Chicago Centro Cultural Bertolt Brecht	Fri & Sat, 8:30 pm; Sun, 5:00 pm
	Mefisto Teatro undertakes the musical again, this time with the famous Chicago, which first opened in Broadway in 1975. Deliberately drifting away from the 2002 film version, the director, Tony Díaz, has formed a cast of bright young hopes and experienced actors.

	Un hombre es un hombre Sala El Sótano	Fri & Sat, 8:30 pm; Sun, 5:00 pm
	Theatre critic Yerandy Fleites has said of Un hombre es un hombre [A Man Is a Man] by the German playwright Bertolt Brecht: “This is a play that is being produced these days in many theatres of the world. Motivations abound. The--simple or complex—fact that the dramatics of this play is based on something as thorny as the militarist universe is reason enough to delve into the many diverse concerns of man today…But although the magnitude of the play lies without doubt on war, its real intensity…lies in Brecht’s objective questioning on man’s morality, whether in times of peace or war, in a factory, in outer space or at a florist’s; the important thing is man and his nature, his ability of making choices, his responsibility for being a social being…”

Events

	Circus Carpa Trompoloco	Through 5 September Afternoons: Fri thru Sun, 5:00 pm Evenings: Wed thru Sun, 8:30 pm
	The show features Circuba 2010 prize-winning artists including Donet Collazo (Cuba), 1st prize, gymnastics; Denis Chindyaskin (Russia), 2nd prize, juggling; and Duet Rose (USA) 3rd prize, trapeze. Also, Grupo Scala (Cuba), acrobatics; Maxim Minasov (Russia), tightrope; José Pepitín Opitz Peña (Cuba), Popularity Prize-Winner, and many more Reservations available at www.circonacionaldecuba.cu

Dance

	La Carmen Teatro Mella	23-25 Sep, 8:30 pm; 26 Sep, 5:00 pm
	Performances in the capital by the Ballet Contemporáneo Camagüey Endedans with La Carmen, choreographed by Tania Vergara, who has said about her controversial piece: “The peculiar thing about my version is that the main character is not a woman, as is usual in most Carmens. The seductive, passionate and deceitful character is a man. From the original script, it has retained the yearning and the need to be free, of not committing himself to any of his conquests, and defending his ideals at all cost. Vengeance and death are also present. I believe that the corps de ballet marks my view of the homosexual theme of the ballet. The group refers to society’s behaviour towards these people. I emphasize the work on the corps de ballet as a prejudiced society that manipulates, judges and stipulates the fate of the characters.”

	Ballet Español de Cuba Gran Teatro de La Habana	17, 18, 24, 25 Sep, 8:30 pm; 19, 26 Sep, 5:00 pm
	Choreographed by leading dancer Irene Rodríguez, Emigrante tells the story a Spaniard who, like so many other fellow countrymen, came to Cuba in the early 20th century to try his luck, falls in love and decides to stay on the island. This theme leads to the fusion of Spanish and Cuban dances, which characterizes this company.

	El Patio de la Rumba El Palenque	Sat, 3:00 pm
	El Patio de la Rumba: weekly gathering with dancers and musicians of the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional and guests, dedicated to one of the most popular musical and dance genres in Cuba,

	Les Sylphides Gran Teatro de La Habana	10, 11 Sep 8:30 pm; 12 Sep, 5:00 pm
	The Ballet Nacional de Cuba presents Les Sylphides, choreography by Alicia Alonso, based on Mikhail Fokine’s original version, with music by Chopin; and Dido Abandoned, choreography by Alicia Alonso, based on the ballet of the same name by Gaspero Angiolini, who also composed the music.

A PREVIEW OF THE COMING MONTHS

	Fiesta de la Cultura Iberoamericana Casa de Iberoamérica, Holguín 24-28 October
	The event seeks to recover and promote the Spanish roots and background of the Cuban nation by way of a program composed of concerts, exhibitions, workshops and popular festivities, with the performance of important Cuban musicians and guests from all over Spanish America.

Festival Internacional Matamoros Son
Casa de la Trova and Heredia Theatre, Santiago de Cuba
20-24 October

This festival, which is a tribute to one of the big names of Cuban music, the Santiago de Cuba-native Miguel Matamoros, author of the well-known song Mamá, son de la loma, is a meeting of soloists and bands from all over the island, as well as other countries. Concerts, lectures, dances, workshops, book and CD launches, as well as a Cuban popular dance competition that will include danzón, son, cha-cha-cha, mambo, casino and salsa, will liven up the city, famous for its hospitality

Festival Internacional de Ballet de La Habana
Gran Teatro de La Habana and other venues in Havana and the provinces
28 October-6 November, 2010

Presided over since 1960 by the legendary Alicia Alonso, this festival brings together international soloists and companies alongside the Cuban National Ballet in Havana and other venues across the island. With more than 200 world premieres to its name, thousands of guests always show up for the Havana Ballet Festival. The festival has seen unforgettable moments, such as the farewell performance of the role of Siegfried in Swan Lake by Argentinean virtuoso Julio Bocca on the same stage where he danced the role for the first time; a performance by prima ballerina Carla Fracci of a piece specially choreographed for her by Alicia Alonso; and spectacular performances by Cuban international stars Carlos Acosta and José Manuel Carreño.