Cuban maestro Leo Brouwer moved by tributes in Costa Rica

October 28, 2019

The composer, guitarist, and Cuban orchestra conductor Leo Brouwer expressed feeling moved by the tributes and the authentic and sincere affection received in Costa Rica, where, in a unique concert, he conducted the CR Orchestra performing his music.

'I feel very happy to be here with all of you, who are my culture, Latin America and my own homeland, Cuba which is present in almost everything I do, in every sense not only my work, but also my relationship with the world is always linked with the phenomenon of Cuban culture', Brouwer stated this Sunday at Cuba's residence in Costa Rica.

Before a group of Cubans on state missions and residents in this country, as well as personalities from Costa Rican culture, Brouwer thanked 'all of you for this affection that I feel deeply, I feel it reach me, it moves me'.

Thanks to all for that affection toward Cuba and for the love toward my country, which I love and where I will always live, he emphasized. 'I cannot overlook the excellent attention they have given me in Costa Rica, where I have spent a week of warmth and respect', he noted.

Henry Calvo, from Producciones Papalote and in charge of attending to Brouwer in Costa Rica, said that this year has made history in the world, as Leo Brouwer turned 80 years old—on March 1st—and it is historic because he has transcended music, he has made an impact on the musical environment, guitar, orchestra and contemporary music around the globe.

'We had the blessing in Costa Rica of being part of that history, which began a year ago thanks to the work of the Guitarra Itinerante group from Mexico. We were fortunate and had Master Brouwer this week for the first time working and conducting his music and Costa Rica was part of the history of Master Leo Brouwer's 80 years', he exalted.

Minister of Culture and Youth Sylvie Durán highlighted 'the opportunity to have Master Brouwer here and what it means in a process that in Costa Rica has been slow and stubborn and it is that our music, with all the wonder that our scene has, has also grown a lot looking at other places and still with difficulty in recognizing itself in our own music'.

There Cuba has taught us all a lot, it teaches us much in everything we still have to do, she stated and thanked the Cuban musician for sharing his birthday with Costa Rica.

For his part, Cuba's ambassador to Costa Rica, Danilo Sánchez, recalled the pride with which the Costa Rican guitarists spoke as they paid him tribute for his 80 years at the opening of the XI International Guitar Meeting of Cartago, on the 21st, as well as in the unique concert—divided into two parts—this Saturday and Sunday in this capital.

In the Day of Cuban Culture, which Cuba celebrates every October 20th because the National Anthem was sung for the first time on a day like that, but in 1868, it is a great honor to have him among us, Sánchez emphasized.