Camerata Cortés of Cuba Presents Making-of Documentary for "Nueva Era" Album

Flutist Orlando "Maraca" Valle and the Camerata Cortés presented the making-of documentary for their debut album, “Nueva Era,” today at the Villena Hall of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).

Produced by the Company of Music Recordings and Editions (EGREM) in collaboration with Colibrí Productions and directed by Marah Góngora, the video provides an intimate look at the creative process of the musical ensemble, which is primarily composed of female flutists.

The presentation took place within the "Detrás de la Portada" space and featured a panel moderated by EGREM music archive specialist Gemay Castillo, with participation from Góngora and Valle himself, who serves as vice president of the UNEAC Musicians' Association.

“There are no guests on the album, precisely because I realized during our own concert galas that what we need is to make the camerata known worldwide,” Valle specified.

For Góngora, participating in this album was both a challenge and a gift. The making-of documentary gathers testimonials from various stakeholders in the project, including Camerata representative Juana Isabel Cabrera, founder Guillermo Pedroso, executive producer Élsida González, and flutists Yamily Amador and Liz Claudia Morales.

“We wanted to capture what the flutists felt, how the current director projected himself within the studio; everything was used, from the smiles and tears to the power outage during the recording,” Marah Góngora acknowledged.

“This first album has been expected for many years, and I think it arrived at the best moment,” added the director, who also designed the cover art. The cover evokes a muse wearing a crown of flutes, recalling that José Luis Cortés used to say the flute was the “musical instrument of the gods.”

Indeed, the album—which already boasts five nominations for the Cubadisco Awards—constitutes a tribute to the legacy of Maestro Cortés, the creator of the namesake Camerata. The curation of “Nueva Era” includes a selection of pieces by Mozart, Richard Egües, Bach, José Luis Cortés, and Maraca Valle himself, among others. According to the orchestra director, the goal is to convey a message, a journey, and a story narrated through these themes.

Maraca Valle also announced a sixth nomination for the documentary “Flautas con Aromas de Mujer” (Flutes with the Scent of a Woman), dedicated to the history of the Camerata. The Camerata Cortés is a unique ensemble in Cuba, conceived as a flute orchestra to provide professional opportunities for young female graduates from arts schools.