ANACAONA ORCHESTRA TURNS 85 YEARS

The Anacaona orchestra turns 85 years and continues to be a benchmark of Cuban culture and a source of inspiration for countless ladiesonly bands of dancing music around the world. On the occasion of that celebration, Clave Cubana, Agencia de Representación Artística of Artex S.A cultural holding, that represents it, is announcing a tour around Havana's neighborhoods and province capital cities, where the audience will be able to enjoy their concerts.

Álvaro Sarmiento, general manager of this agency, in an interview for Arte por Excelencias, goes into detail when commenting on this promotional project joined by Bis Music, a record label, and Comercial Lauros, importing division, both from Artex S.A., Empresa Carnaval and Instituto Cubano de la Música, the latter both in charge of performances at provincial theaters. “Bis Music will produce a record with hits of Anacaona and a DVD with the concert that will take place at teatro Mella next October 21, featuring Omara Portuondo, the diva of Buena Vista Social Club, who participated as a member of this emblematic orchestra in the 1940`s, as well as other prestigious Cuban musicians”, he pointed out.

“In their performances, they will wear innovative designs from Cubali dressmaking line, of Comercial Lauros, that promote the works of plastic arts artists of great renown, and which presentation will take place in next Feria Arte in La Rampa”.

Anacaona —an indigenous word that refers to golden flower— came into being in 1932 as a ladies' son sextet, made up of Concepción Castro and her sisters Ada, Alicia, Ondina, Xiomara, Algimira, Emma, Caridad and Olga. Their debut took place on February 19 that same year, at Teatro Payret in Havana.

Declared as Cuba's Cultural Heritage in 1989, as being the band that kept the same members for the longest time nonstop.