More than Two Decades of Sonantas Habaneras

Sonantas Habaneras shows sustained work and the composer and leader Jesús Ortega has built a true cordófono portent for 23 years

Ana Margarita Sánchez Soler, asanchez@enet.cu

The group, founded in 1995 by the outstanding teacher Jesús Ortega, is celebrating its birthday. Two decades have passed since the founding of the group accompanied by an intense concert activity.

The string orchestra enjoys a remarkable recognition among the public and the community of musicians. A large number of professionals that integrate it are able to diversify their proposals from the adaptation to different formats. Songs by Roberto Valera, Miguel Matamoros, Silvio Rodriguez, Hector Villa-Lobos, Franz Schubert, Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and many others have shaped the program of presentations.

In these years of life, the orchestra has performed at major events and venues in the country and the world, for example, the International Guitar Festival of Havana, the Minor Basilica of the Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi and in the German cities of Fulda and Hannover.

Sonantas Habaneras shows a sustained work and the composer and leader Jesús Ortega has built a true cordófono portent. The director is Professor of Guitar at the University of the Arts since 1976; and founded, together with Issac Nicola and Leo Brouwer, the Cuban Guitar School. He is one of the essential names in the teaching of the string instrument in the country.

There are still many months of deserved celebrations for Sonantas Habaneras and the prestigious maestro Jesús Ortega.

Translated by ESTI