POPE-CUBA/CHORUS Cuban choir put through their paces ahead of pontiff's Havana visit

Record ID: 140121

  • Title: POPE-CUBA/CHORUS Cuban choir put through their paces ahead of pontiff's Havana visit
  • Date: 8th September 2015
  • Summary: MENDEZ WITH MUSICIANS VARIOUS OF MUSICIANS MENDEZ DIRECTING MUSICIANS
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA73QPFOS3R7ZX5IN9IKNQNKKJV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of singers and musicians have come together in Havana to start rehearsals for a massive open air mass in Havana's Revolution Square to be headed by Pope Francis in September on his first visit to the island nation as head of the Catholic Church.
    Francis will be the third pontiff to visit Cuba and presided over the Vatican mediation that led to the resumption of diplomatic ties between Washington and Havana last year after a rupture that lasted more than half a century.
    The mass in Havana is expected to be a distinctly Cuban affair with all musical performances during the mass composed from Cuban artists.
    "Perhaps the only clause was that it be completely Cuban music, that Cuban music be reflected. Perhaps the native Cuban genres and works from several Cuban writers, all from the 20th century that are very influential in popular music. I've just done big band orchestrations with characteristic genres like the danzon, cha cha cha and other genres, purely Cuban genres," revealed Alejandro Martinez, a musician in the orchestra.
    Francis will be the third pope in a row to have visited Havana amidst warming ties between the church and the Cuban government and the choral group called "Ensemble Vocal Luna" have been there each time to help welcome the pontiffs.
    Wilmia Verrier has performed for the last two pontiffs and told Reuters the honour gets better every time.
    "It's a unique experience. It's been better every year, every time one of the popes has come, John Paul, Benedict and of course Francis who is a much loved pope not just in Cuba but in all countries. Also we're going to have a mass in Spanish which will be good for all. I am very happy to have participated in three masses for popes in Havana," she said.
    The 360-piece will be made up of 100 musicians and 260 singers. Musical director Jose Antonio Mendez admitted he has his work cut out for him with less than two weeks to get ready for the mass.
    "It's a very, very complex task to bring together 330 minds, 330 ways of making music and making it one is complicated. It takes time and we're going to do it in record time, with really a limited number of rehearsals. I really think that with the road ahead that it will be a great success, not just politically, religiously, socially but a great success culturally and musically speaking," said Mendez.
    Pope Francis arrives in Havana on of September 19 and is due to be greeted by President Raul Castro, younger brother of Fidel, who, Vatican sources say, he will meet depending on the revolutionary leader's health.
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