by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
Wisin & Yandel: (photo by Marvun J. Ramirez)
FOUR TIMES THE FUN: This year’s MTV Latinoamerica awards have been split into ceremonies in North and South America, culminating with a live broadcast from Los Angeles this week. nominees are Wisin & Yandel, with six nods, followed by Paulina Rubio, with 6ve, and Lady Gaga and Zoe with four each.
Many of the winners have been chosen by viewers of the MTV Latinoamerica channel (or MTV tres in the United States), who voted online at www.mtvla.com.
VISA GRANTED: Omara Portuondo will be able to keep two California commitments this month after the Cuban singer was granted a rare visa to enter the United States.
The vocalist, best known as a member of the Buena Vista Social Club, announced last month that she has received the visa and said in a press release that she hopes her visit will allow her to be a mediator between the U.S. and Cuba Portuondo will sing Oct. 20 at the San Francisco Jazz Festival and on the 23rd at the University of California, Los Angeles.
While the visa for the singer was seen as a sign of a new openness to Cuba by the Obama Administration, the news contrasted with a recent announcement by the New York Philharmonic that it was canceling a planned Cuba tour.
The Philharmonic said it had received permission from the U.S. Treasury for its musicians and staff to travel to the island, bu
At the Gibson Amphitheater Oct. 15, host rapper René Pérez (of Calle 13) and Nelly Furtado include snippets from previous ceremonies in Buenos Aires, Bogotá and Mexico City.
Several of the Lenguas— tongue-shaped trophies—in regional categories have already been awarded, but the winners in main categories will be announced this week. Top not for its sponsors. The federal government, it said, determined that allowing the sponsors would go against travel restrictions long imposed by the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
The New York orchestra was slated to perform in Cuba Oct. 30 through Nov. 2
STAGE PIONEER: Gilberto Zaldivar, founder of NewYork’s prestigious Repertorio Español theater company, died Oct. 6 in his Manhattan home following a long illness. He was 75. Hispanic Link.
