Cuban Musicians to Honor Austrian Composer Franz Schubert

A group of Cuban musicians will pay tribute here to the Austrian composer Franz Schubert in the 220 anniversary of his birth with a concert scheduled for January 30, organizers announced. Sponsored by the National Lyric Theater of Cuba and the Austrian Embassy in Havana, the San Felipe Neri Oratory will host the performance by pianist Gabriel Chorens, who will play complex and beautiful works of Schubert, considered the introducer of musical romanticism.

Chorens will play also fragments from the collection of short pieces entitled Six musical moments, one of the most frequently performed by international musicians.

Under the name of Schubertiada, in honor of the performances by the Viennese pianist with other leading intellectuals of the time and friends, the presentation will include a selection of several of his Lieder (short compositions for voice and piano).

Tenor Luis Javier Oropesa, sopranos Conchita Franqui and Indira Hechavarría, and the first horn of the Symphony Orchestra of Santa Clara, Elio Rojas Hernandez, will also participate in the tribute to the author of The King of the Elves and Winter Journey.

Songs belonging to the cycle Swan Song, Hymn to the Virgin Mary and The River can be heard in the San Felipe Neri Oratory, Cuban cultural institution built in 1693 and specialized in lyrical music.