This is not by chance. Havana has always been a meeting point for popular voices from the north hemisphere. Since the beginning of the 20thcentury many have come to this city to test themselves in its stages. Libertad Lamarque, Pedro Vargas, Nat King Cole and many more make up a long list of singers that have been tagged as “conquerors” of our musical scenarios.
Just a year ago, Argelia Fragoso created a space where famous singers came together. That first edition of Popular Voices outlined a strategy designed by Fragoso which included those who tainted music from folklore. Thus, many artists met at the Lazaro Peña Theatre to represent unique musical expressions such as Colombian Totó la Momposina and Spanish folk-pop-rock group Amaral.
Argelia will reedit this meeting from November 2 to 9 this year and has launched a call with many renowned artists. Mexican singer Lila Downs will delight an expert audience in Aztec arts on November 8 at the Lazaro Peña Theatre. Fragoso announced in an exclusive for OnCuba that Downs will present her disc awarded at the Latin Grammy´s.
Ana Lila Downs Sánchez, born in Oaxaca, has transcended for approaching subjects like politics, social justice and immigration in her songs. Among her most outstanding records we can mention Lila Downs and La Misteriosa en París—Live A FIP(2010), compilation El Alma de Lila Downs (2009), La Sandunga (1999) and Ofrenda (1994).
Maridalia Hernández, will perform at the same theatre on November 9. She is well-known in Cuba for joining famous Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra and his band 440. Burbujas de amor and Ojalá que llueva café will always be singles Cubans will grant considerable relevance in her career. Maridalia, originally from Santiago de los Caballeros, graduated from the Dominican Music Academy and the National Music Conservatory.
Unlike many people might think her career didn’t begin with Juan Luis Guerra´s band. She began in the early 80´s when she interpreted the character of Magdalena in the rock opera Jesus Christ superstar by joining the Dominican National Choir. He has performed by the side of Camilo Sesto and Michel Camilo, and has collaborated in record productions by important musicians like Cuban Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
The Germans Fun Fun, says Argelia Fragoso, are a group of music professors lovers of the Cuban sounds and particularly of its afro nuance. They name their group after a Yoruba word and are willing to dazzle the Cuban audience in The popular voice, a space scheduled for November 6 at the National Museum of Music.
Argelia described as an introduction concert the performance of the Spanish La Niña del Cabo, who will present her phonographic opera prima ZUM, on November 14 at the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Noemí Maldonado, the real name of La Niña del Cabo, is a songwriter, guitar player and singer that mix the folklore from her nation, jazz, flamingo and hip hop. From the last two she has created what she calls Flamenco Jop, which will be the main focus of her show where she combines performance and words.
Lectures, spaces for reflection on music nowadays and a Cuban Gala (November 7, National Theatre), with the presence of Isaac Delgado, have become appealing elements of the second edition of Popular Voices, a perfect moment to catch up with the present day songs, which inevitably looks back to its roots.
Popular Voices has been organized by the Popular Voices Foundation and VP productions, whose president is Argelia Fragoso. She has created this meeting under the leadership of VP productions with the sponsorship of the Cuban Music Institute, Record Label Colibri and the Popular Music National Center.
