The international artists who will take part in the San Remo Music Awards Cuba arrived on the island this Tuesday.
Lis Cuesta, wife of the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel and main promoter of the event, announced the start of the event on her Twitter account.
“The San Remo Music Awards have started. For those who know how to enjoy and build, and also for others. Art in Cuba is for everyone!” he expressed along with the hashtag #VamosConTodo.
After months ago the Cancellations of foreign singers Finally, like the duo Andy and Lucas, Alex Ubago and Kalimba, who were the main attraction of the event, artists from Italy, Mexico and Spain will perform at the event in Havana, which will last until April 10th.
At a press conference, Flabio Ferrari, manager of the SRMA brand, announced the arrival of the Italian Gatto Panceri, musician and composer, author of the song Vivo por ella, made famous by the tenor Andrea Bocelli; Michele Pecora, Ricardo Cocciante and three winning singers of the Festival in other editions.
The presence of Spanish singer and presenter Pilar Boyero was also confirmed; Mexican Sami (Samuel) Castelini, composer of soundtracks for telenovelas; and Italian fashion designer Nino Lettieri.
Among the Cuban artists, the names Lachy Fortuna, María Victoria Rodríguez, Niurka Reyes, Yarima Blanco, Abel Geronés and Alejandro Falcón have been mentioned.
The event will include a talent contest in which 16 young Cuban artists selected from 800 applications will compete against each other. The jury of the competition was presented, chaired by Joaquín Betancourt and made up of David Torrens and Waldo Mendoza.
It was reported at the press conference that additional performers from the United States and Mexico were expected to arrive in the coming days, but their names were not revealed.
This level of secrecy has shaped the preparation process for Cuba’s San Remo, after several international artists publicly declined to participate and fears of new cancellations were sowed by Cuban authorities.
Independent journalist José Raúl Gallego shared a photo of the program of the event on his Facebook wall, omitting the names of the invited artists and only indicating their country of origin.
“Amid all the repression that exists in Cuba, the San Remo Festival program is now available. Apparently they still don’t want to say who the invited foreign artists are. What’s going on?” Gallego asked.
After the cancellations of the main artists for the San Remo Music Awards, following a campaign on social networks denouncing the reality of Cuba, there was speculation that the Cuban government would have to suspend the festival.
However, the regime stood firm and in the same February confirmed that it would take place, in addition to the cultural partan international business fair at the National Hotel, a fashion show and a culinary event are planned.