Can you imagine the scene – we all tumbled out of a small Havana taxi, loaded with musical and educational gifts and a purple violin for the children of the Conservatorio de Musica ‘Manuel Saumell’. Before us we were astonished to see the mock Tudor facade of the 19th century school, home to bright, excited children, squeezed into small practice rooms, even to the topmost floor – an elevated roof terrace where the boys could practice their percussion instruments at full volume to the wide-open blue sky.
Gillian Humphreys our indefatigable artistic director was swept towards their petit theatre where we listened to delightful music from a group of talented youngsters with an audience of their peers giving them enthusiastic and, it seemed, unconditional support. Rosie Mayhew, our scenic artist, displayed the pictures drawn and painted by the children of Shapla school, Tower Hamlets, and, encouraged by Rosie, twelve young volunteers were drawing and painting their exchange impressions of Havana.
This was the reason we were in Cuba! Extending our ‘golden thread of hope’, which has taken us to Romania, Malaysia, Argentina and twice to Vietnam where we presented western style opera productions in the beautiful opera houses of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
James Cleverton, baritone, from ENO and Japanese violinist Satoko Fukuda, both Concordia ambassadors, gave masterclasses for the students at the Palacio del Teatro Lyrico and at the Institute Superior de Arte respectively. Gillian presented the The Still Voice Sings Within, our programme for world peace at the Amadeo Roldan Theatre, featuring, Satoko, James, Eduardo Martin the famous Cuban guitarist/composer and his son, the exceptionally young talented pianist Dario Martin.
Rosie Mayhew, our scenic artist, painted a dramatic canvas backdrop depicting a journey from darkness into light illustrating the theme of the concert The Still Voice Sings Within as the performance progressed.
Our musical journey concluded with a concert at the beautiful Basilica Menor del Convento de San Francisco de Asis where Satoko played a new composition by Eduardo Martin, Hasta Alicia Baila, for violin and guitar, at a concert celebrating his music.
For the artists in our party our journey had been inspirational and seven Friends of Concordia, who had travelled with us, enjoyed a fascinating and illuminating cultural and educational tour to an island rich in history and destined to face great changes in the years ahead.
PJD
28 April 2009