by the El Reportero’s news services
Devoted fans of singer Celia Cruz flocked to her mausoleum in New York’s Woodlawn Cemetery to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.
The powerful voice of the Cuban-born “Queen of Salsa” rang out at the site where she rests alongside husband Pedro Knight.
“Quimbara,” “Cucala” and “La vida es un carnaval” were among the songs selected by Woodlawn historian Cristiana Peña for the observance, which was organized in coordination with the Celia Cruz Foundation.
“I am the first to come every year and bring her flowers,” Rafael Rodriguez told Efe. “I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years.”
Cruz died July 16, 2003, in New Jersey, after a battle with brain cancer. She was 77.
A multiple-Grammy winner, Cruz had a worldwide following and earned a score of gold records over the course of a decades-long career.
Alejandro Sanz announces two concerts in Mexico City in October
Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz will offer two concerts this October in Mexico City as part of his international tour “La Musica No Se Toca” (Don’t Mess with the Music), the promoter of the shows said in a communique.
The artist will appear Oct. 1-2 in the Mexican capital’s National Auditorium, where he will sing two numbers from his latest disc “La Musica No Se Toca,” as well as some of his greatest hits like “Amiga Mia” and “Corazon Partio.”
It was in Mexico City at the Foro Sol arena last October that Sanz kicked off the tour that has taken him to cities around the United States, Latin America and Spain.
Before his concerts here, Sanz plans to visit Mexico to take part in the International Mariachi Conference to be held between Aug. 28 and Sept. 8 in the western city of Guadalajara.
Spain will be the guest country at that event and so the Spanish singer-song-writer will give a concert on Sept. 7 at Guadalajara’s Telmex Auditorium.
Taking a break from the tour, the artist is currently on a trip to the Arctic with Greenpeace to raise awareness about the importance of preserving that polar region and to try and stop its commercial exploitation, basically by unsustainable industrial fishing and drilling for oil.
Venezuela: Caracas hosts 7th Int’l Puppet Festival
Puppeteers from Argentina, France and Cuba are in Venezuela’s capital for the 7th International Puppet Theater Festival.
More than 100 people, the majority of them parents with children, packed into the Teatro Teresa Carreño in downtown Caracas on Wednesday for a puppet show.
Puppeteers are staging morning and afternoon shows at other venues in the capital, as well as in Miranda and Vargas states, which border the Capital District.
Argentina’s Los Cuatro Vientos, Fifiriches and El Gorrion companies will be presenting the “Titeres a los Cuatro Vientos” (Puppets from the Four Winds), “De payasos y domadores” (Of Clowns and Tamers) and “Que viva el queso!” (Long Live the Cheese!) shows.
Cuba’s Las Compañias Hilos Magicos and Las Cuatro Estaciones companies are participating in the festival. France’s Phillippe Genty company is putting on its “La llamada del mar” (Call of the Sea) show with an introduction to the world of poetry. Venezuela has 35 different companies and groups participating in the festival.