Silvio Rodríguez and Chico Buarque Release New Version of "Sueño con serpientes"

May 16, 2026

Cuban troubadour Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez presented on May 15, 2026, a new version of his classic "Sueño con serpientes" ("Dream of Serpents"), recorded alongside legendary Brazilian musician and writer Chico Buarque de Hollanda. The release arrived on major digital streaming platforms accompanied by an official music video available on YouTube.

The recording took place during Buarque's visit to Havana on April 8 and 9, 2026, at the Ojalá Studios in the Cuban capital — a studio that belongs to Silvio Rodríguez himself. It marked the first time Chico Buarque had returned to Cuba in 34 years, and the encounter renewed an artistic friendship spanning more than five decades between two of the most emblematic voices in Latin American song.

The musical team for the session included Jorge Aragón on arrangements, Frank Fernández on keyboards, Niurka González on flute, Jorge Reyes on double bass, Malva Rodríguez on piano, and Oliver Valdés on drums and percussion. Recording, mixing, and mastering were handled by Olimpia Calderón, with post-production overseen by Silvio Rodríguez himself.

"Sueño con serpientes" was composed by Silvio Rodríguez and first appeared on his debut album Días y flores (1975). The song is one of the most iconic in his repertoire and a canonical work of the Nueva Trova Cubana movement. Buarque had previously performed the piece in Portuguese, lending a special depth to this new Spanish-language rendition.

The official music video, filmed between April 6 and 11, 2026, in Havana, was directed by Francisco Proner, with assistant direction by Beatriz Miranda and editing by Larissa Armstrong. All proceeds from the production will be donated by both musicians to the Pediatric Ward of Cuba's National Institute of Oncology.

In an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina marking the release, Silvio Rodríguez — now 79 years old — reflected on his creative philosophy: "I believe art should be as each artist feels it; art is freedom, and if there is no freedom it is not worth it." He also emphasized the handcrafted nature of his work: "What I do has always been artisanal, not industrial. People I know call me and suggest something, and then we decide whether to do it or not."