If I believed in the existence of preconfigured fates, written to strength and will of a supreme being, I would also ensure that Benny Moré was a man who lived and died, at least after discovering that his was the music, the way that it pleased him. Good for him after all. On top of not knowing which will be your last day, it beats me you have to live following what society "establishes" as right. Subjectively correct. And here is not that Benny has led a life of disorder. I clarified for all those who strive to put explanatory arrows at all events, ultimately what I clarify for those who ever claimed el Barbaro hastened his death. Benny Moré is remembered in his native Santa Isabel de las Lajas with a pilgrimage to the place where his mortal remains rest, a silent pilgrimage until they reach his grave: once there tears will disrupt with his music that fills the cemetery every August 24, a posthumous homage to his melodious voice and legacy. But this February 19, when we commemorate 52 years of his departure, it will inundate us with his memory. With nostalgia his music will resound in our...

He has just won three Grammys and is simply Alexander Delgado, the same as always, but in unfathomable ways, which are only known by the chosen ones, a wreath of that magnitude changes the life of any common man. "The biggest thing that can happen to an artist in his career is to win a Grammy, imagine winning three at once".

In many and diverse ways, one (in receptor status) will start believing, but sometimes erroneously that knows public figures. For the actors, you run the risk of mistaking the journey for having transfigured them in dissimilar human versions. Even with the filmmakers, the issue is no less complex. Architects as they are of finished products, it really becomes an issue to get them into a concept that comes close to absolute reality. One of our most renowned directors is undoubtedly Ian Padrón. Virtually he just took home the Lucas Award for Video of the Year and gladly accepts this virtual interview for OnCuba. In what way did being the son of Juan Padron influence you work? I was born and raised in a home surrounded by stories, humorous and many artists from around the world. My father is an example of dedication to the public and professionalism in everything he does. Amid this environment he raised me and my sister, psychologist by profession. In many aspects of life I'm more like my mother, who is the one that "runs" the family. To what extent was it a challenge? It is very personal to choose the same profession of a known...

When a new year begins, the time is right to start new projects and explore new paths. This year different Cuban musicians are working in musical productions and not all of them will keep the line of work that has characterized them. Before the end of 2014, the Cuban singer Omara Portuondo made known her phonogram ¨Magia Negra¨ (Black Magic), a version of the first album published by the Diva of the Buena Vista Social Club when she was part of the quartet Las D'Aida in 1958. Under the production of Juan Cerito, the CD involves young musicians with outstanding career such as Roly Luna, the bassist Gaston Joya, Rodney Barreto on drums and percussionist Andrés Coayo. As obvious corollary of her versatility, the girlfriend of ¨filin¨ plays a range of genres of Cuban music, including bolero, son, passing through jazz and masterfully performing the hit That Old Black Magic by Duke Ellington. Meanwhile, the only Cuban Latin Grammy winner in the category of Best Song along with the members of Gente de Zona, Cuban Descemer Bueno, announced that he is working on two albums, one for the Latin world in the United States and another one for the fans...

The insertion of Cuban volleyball players in foreign leagues and the return of the main beach volleyball pairs to the world circuits are the two min novelties for Cuba volleyball for 2015 In statements to the press, the president of the Cuban Volleyball Federation, Ariel Sainz, described 2014 as encouraging because despite not having had good results at the top level “there are great expectations for 2015” Sainz said they are in talks with foreign clubs that are interested in hiring Cuban players. He added that the leagues with greater possibilities of inserting Cuba players in box sexes are the Japanese, Turkish and the Indonesian. Regarding beach volleyball, he said the main Cuban pairs would play some stages of the world circuit in 2015, after winning some events in the NORCECA circuit. The Cuban official said he was unhappy with the results of the Cuban indoor teams that ended with bronze medals in the Veracruz Games. He announced as well that the main events for Cubans will be the Pan America games in Toronto, the World League, the Grand Prix and the six world championships Cuba qualified to in the U18, U20, and U23 categories.

Titled "The fighters against Ebola" Time Magazine released in five covers, its traditional December issue, "Personality of the Year". The American magazine shows the hidden face into a mask of physician Jerry Brown, Liberian surgeon who turned his hospital in the first health center to fight the virus. Although generically Time includes all those who are fighting Ebola, distinctly mentions "special forces of Doctors Without Borders, the workers of association of Christian humanitarian Samaritan's Purse and many others worldwide who fought closely with local doctors and nurses, ambulance drivers and teams gravediggers.” According to the editor of the publication, Nancy Gibbs, the choice is theirs because "they risked, persisted, sacrificed and saved lives." She also recalled the case of a high school in Ohio that didn’t admit Nigerian students´ enrollment while said that #VamosAMorirTodos was trending on Twitter 'after learning of the first contagion in Spain. At another point in her remarks, Gibbs added that "'Ebola is a war and a warning. The overall health system doesn’t nearly keep us safe from infectious diseases, and we mean everyone ... the world can sleep ". According to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic...

Owner of super exclusive names in the language of chemistry we could say that Renata Mézenov Sa is the clear result of an alloy. If you ask me references, without much hesitation, I will add that she is a very busy woman and I'm pretty sure that she would include herself, without delay, in the long list of those who need 25-hour days. LMV: Tell me the story of those surnames. RMS: "My mom was among the first group of Cubans who went to study in the former Soviet Union, in 1961. At the university where she studied, she met my dad who was a teacher. They fell in love and I was conceived in Russia although I was born in Havana. In the Russian passport I'm Renata Adelinovna Mézenova because patronymic for women does not exist there. Sa is certainly Spanish. I also have African influences, my mom is mulatta but my grandmother was black. " Half uncombed, a long braid gets into her right side. Her eyes do not try to persuade anyone, though their deep blue colour could perfectly do it. At the headquarters of the group "El Ciervo Encantado" Renata surprises me with her beginnings, artistically...

Until November 15 at the Spanish Center of Havana will be open the mega exhibition "Japan: Kingdom of Characters".   Misty Mei, from the film Otaku Video / Photo: Santiago Batisdona. Organized by the Japan Foundation and the Japanese embassy in Cuba, the expo's main purpose is to bring visitors to the context and history of manga and anime. Among the stars of the show are Hello Kitty, Ultraman and Pikachu. The display is inserted into the celebrations for the four hundred years of friendship between Cuba and Japan, which somehow started in 1614 when the Japanese samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga came to our country with the purpose of initiating ties from the commercial point of view with the new World. Earlier in the gallery Rubén Martínez Villena the Japanese illustrator Seiichi Hayashi proposed to the public the exhibition  “Bellas Japonesas ", a conglomeration of manga magazine covers and anime screenings of his own. The origins of Japanese manga date back to 1868 when immigrants arrived in Japan from the West. More specifically, its birth took place when the Japanese graphic art (emerged from the eleventh century) and Western cartoons were combined. Among its initiators is Osamu Tezuka. Map with mascots...

As part of the side events of the Twenty Fourth International Ballet Festival of Havana, the exhibition "In good hands ... the ballet" by photographers Nancy Reyes and Luis Alberto Alonso was inaugurated. The sui generis sample exhibits different facets of the most universal Cuban artist through her hands; which become obvious corollary of memory and learning representing prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso. Snapshots also capture twists and poses typical of the leading figures of the prestigious National Ballet of Cuba. Another photo expo titled "Portrait of the Cuban School of Ballet" and curated by Roberto Chile, is also planned to open at the José Martí Memorial next Monday, at six o'clock. In it, the American photographer Rebekah Bowman proposes more than twenty images in medium and large format that catch for eternity multiple times of classes and rehearsal within the National Ballet School. Dr. Miguel Cabrera, Historian of the National Ballet of Cuba, said that in addition to being valuable testimony, exposing Bowman is a tribute to the rich heritage of the institution, and is also the display of the inexhaustible resources will nurture the future of Cuban ballet. With over 50 years of history, the Ballet Festival of...

Although we were born in the same city, for those things that destiny writes behind our backs, we met each other on neutral ground. When talking about neutral I mean the congested 23rd street, in Havana's Vedado. We were introduced by a mutual friend. Without much delay, in an uncommon act (I am little more demure in matters that require value), I said, without asking permission, that I would interview him. Of course, that was not the day, and even less the place. The first time I saw Joel Angelino was on the big screen. It was a tremendous event to share and to swell up with pride in front of my classmates. He was playing ¨German¨ in the film ¨Fresa y Chocolate¨. By the way, he is from Sagüa la Grande town, just as Wifredo Lam, Aseneth Rodriguez and Victor Mesa. During the conversation I knew it. It is inevitable; evocation of the past is connected with a lump in the throat. It always happens, when particularized reasons come to light in the form of tangible memory, stored for years. " roposiciones group, in Sagua La Grande , marked a discovery in my life. I was 17. I had...

Withspecialperformances byMirthaIbarraandJoelAngelinothe play "Neurotic Anonymous" will be releasedtodayinCuba The workdetailswith excellentdramaby Mirtha, the story of DulceRodriguez, a sitterat the Maravilla Movie Theater, which will endcollapsingat the endof the play. According to what the actress told OnCuba, at first itwasconceived asa monologue; butalsoincludedchoreography byTonyMenendezand threewritten and performedby her songs witharrangements by Bellitay su Tumbata. Meanwhile,JoelAngelinowill demonstratehisversatility by playingtwo characters: Paquito, a gaywho is responsible forcleaningandDenis, the projectionist, who professes eternal love to Dulce,although shecalls himmediocre andcoward. After 21 years of work in Spain, which represents a return to the Cuban stage Angelino also will present his solo "Sex sense" a sui generis proposal that is set in a cabaret. With his group based in Tenerife, he will bring to the scene of the Mella Theater and Teatro La Caridad, Santa Clara, the "Red Riding Hood, the Musical". For these representations the members of his company Sahily Cabezas and Adriana Zalma will travel to Cuba, who along with Joel will offer a tribute to tolerance, to diversity and social harmony. As for Mirtha, she waits to premiere in the Havana Film Festival the film "Fatima and Fraternity Park", and will start working in the movie ¨Dancing with Margot¨ by Arturo Santana.