Omara sings alongside Andy Montañez on tour through Havana neighborhoods

January 31, 2020

The legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo shared the stage with Puerto Rican salsa singer Andy Montañez in a recent performance by the Diva of Buena Vista Social Club at Plaza Antón Recio in the Los Sitios neighborhood in Havana.

During the show, Omara sang the classic "Como fue" alongside the popular Puerto Rican artist, creating one of the most memorable moments of the presentation, which is part of the Habana Ciudad Musical tour that the "sweetheart of feeling" is conducting throughout the Cuban capital with the Failde orchestra and the Verdarte company.

Sunday's performance was the second of the tour and featured Andy Montañez as the main guest, who returned to Cuba for personal reasons.

The Puerto Rican composer and orchestra director is scheduled to participate in an upcoming album to be recorded at Egrem studios in tribute to Portuondo's 90 years, performing the song "Silencio," while the Failde will record the song "Esas no son cubanas," by Ignacio Piñeiro.

Omara Portuondo remains active on stage at 89 years old and is working on several recording projects. Last November she received the Latin Grammy Award for Musical Excellence, an honor that she dedicated to Cuba.

"This is a prize for Cuba," said the Buena Vista Social Club diva, who stated that she received it on behalf of her country and the musicians who have shared her remarkable career with her.

"I carry in my heart and in my throat the infinite memory of the members of the Cuarteto D' Aida, of my companions from the feeling and from the Buena Vista Social Club: Aida Diestro, Elena Burque, Moraima Secada, Haydée Portuondo, César Portillo, José Antonio Méndez, Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Rubén González and so many others that it pains me to name, they are with me here receiving this award," said Portuondo at the ceremony held in Las Vegas.

In recent months the singer has been conducting her "El Último Beso" tour with which she has said goodbye to some international stages, where she has performed anthology songs from Cuban music.

Andy Montañez has performed on numerous occasions in Cuba where he has acknowledged the influence of the Island's rhythms and collaborated with artists from various generations and popular music orchestras.

His first performance in Cuba dates back to 1980, when he visited Cuba as a singer with the Venezuelan orchestra Dimensión Latina, where he replaced Venezuelan Oscar de León. Since then he has continued traveling regularly to the Island and performing concerts at festivals and other venues in the country.