Collien Konzert & Theater & Hamburg St . Pauli Varieté present
VARIETÉ DE BUENA VISTA
by Becky Tan
A solitary trumpet opens over two and a half hours ( including one intermission ) of entertaining Cuban music : rumba , salsa , cha-cha-cha , mambo , etc . British author / director Toby Gough moderated the evening in English , introducing Cuban music from the 1950s “ before the revolution ,” when Havana was the Las Vegas of the Caribbean and Americans streamed over from Florida , ( including myself , my parents , and my four siblings ; we drove the whole way from Missouri , US , in 1955 ).
Later , in the 1990s , Cuban music took a new trend under the influence of jazz , which we also experience in this performance . Here we appreciate accomplished stars , ranging in age from sixty to over eighty years , who have a long history of performing worldwide . Pedrito Calvo , singer and Grammy winner ( with the band Los Van Van in 2000 ), is eighty-one years old and supposedly has thirty-two children . Jesus “ Aguaje ” Ramos plays his trombone in the seven-member Buena Vista Social Club Orchestra and compares musical notes with Roldán Carballoso , who plays the lute guitar . Pianist Emilio Morales keeps the swing going , as does the excellent percussion . They all support not only the fantastic singers , but also the dancers who present Caleño-style dance , e . g ., two elderly twins , Alonso and Fernando Caicedo , as well as youngsters , including two dancing couples in gorgeous costumes . There are also four acrobats from the Cuban National Circus .
You will recognize many of the over twenty songs , including “ Guantanamero ,” “ I Put a Spell on You ,” and “ Sandungera .” This mustsee performance will play in the Hansa Theater , downtown Steindamm 17 , until September 2 . Don ’ t miss it .
YASMANY BARRIENTOS & MAYLIN HERNÁNDEZ
LÁZARO ESCANDÓN VERÁ
CURRENTS 43