Cultural Harmonies Unite Young Musicians from Italy and Matanzas

The Office of the City Curator of Matanzas (OCCM) is hosting the cultural exchange "Cultural Harmonies: A Musical Dialogue between Italy and Cuba." This encounter brings together the Swing Cubano Jazz Band and the EtnoMuSa Orchestra from Sapienza Università di Roma in a shared learning and creative experience.

For several days, the young Italian and Cuban musicians are discovering the richness of the host territory's heritage together, visiting historical sites, dialoguing with local artists, and preparing a joint concert. This concert is scheduled for October 9th in the courtyard of the OCCM, featuring repertoires that evoke the memory and cultural diversity of both countries.

The project is part of "Creative Zones," an initiative for cultural and educational cooperation promoted by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by the NGO ARCS Culture Solidali. It fosters cultural entrepreneurship by enhancing the historical heritage of Havana and Matanzas.

According to Marco Boriglione, in charge of project management, the experience aims to strengthen the link between cultural industries and territorial development through the creation of spaces for training and artistic exchange, where young musicians find inspiration in the traditions of the "city of bridges."

Boriglione highlighted that the initiative is part of a long history of cooperation between Italy and Cuba. He specified that EtnoMuSa constitutes a unique example of a university orchestra dedicated to European folk music, while the local Cuban band is distinguished by its discipline and its connection to the Island's popular roots.

For Francesco Berrafato, director of EtnoMuSa, the musical dialogue with the young Cubans is "an intense and fraternal experience," marked by generosity and enthusiasm. He confirmed that the repertoire for next Thursday's performance will include traditional Italian pieces alongside classics of the Cuban popular genre.

Bruno Villalonga, director of the Swing Cubano Jazz Band, stated that the rehearsals are progressing with great dedication and that the young musicians are maturely taking on the challenge of sharing the stage with a foreign ensemble. He assured that the concert will be a tribute to the sonic diversity of Matanzas and to the friendship between peoples.

Villalonga added that the Jazz Band will celebrate 12 years of artistic work on the upcoming October 20th and that this encounter confirms its educational vocation. It provides students with the possibility to dialogue with performers from other traditions, comprehend new soundscapes, and project a message of unity and hope through music from Matanzas.