Event Description

Celebrating Cuban-American Composers highlights works by the Grammy Award-winning Cuban-American composer Paquito D’Rivera, an outspoken critic of Cuba’s human rights violations. His composition Ladies in White pays tribute to the organization of the same name formed by wives of imprisoned Cuban opposition leaders who call on Cuba to release imprisoned political dissidents. The concert also features D’Rivera’s compositions Merengue and Venezuelan Waltz, Grammy-nominated composer Tania León’s powerful and spiritual Alma (“Soul”), and 19th-century Cuban composer Ignacio Cervantes’ Cuban Dances.

The performance is the fourth in Crossing Borders Music’s six-concert series “Choosing Life and Freedom,” featuring music by composers who responded to terrible tragedies with music affirming life and to oppression with music affirming freedom.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.