Interviews Archives - Page 97 of 149

Young Cuban Composer Wilma Alba

The winner of numerous awards at different international events, Wilma Alba is one of the young musicians currently at the vanguard of Cuba’s composition scene. We interviewed her on her efforts.

On Being a Marathon Runner in Cuba

The loneliness of the long distance runner is one of the harshest. This what we read in Alan Sillitoe’s story, but it is also a reality the millions of people around the planet who undertake this noble activity face every day, in an unequivocal show of strength, will and limitless endurance.

Innovative Havana Baker Expands Menu to Attract Diners

How long can a world-renowned chef who has won the Michelin Star (among other awards) content himself with running a bakery in Havana? We’re not talking about any bakery. We’re talking about Salchipizza, whose owner, chemical engineer and master chef Alberto Gonzalez makes the kind of bread that hasn’t been prepared in Cuba for a long time, making the Sylvain and Pain de Paris local chains look like amateurs. (21 photos)

Santiago de Cuba Folk Artist Frank Rodriguez

Frank Rodriguez, a young folk musician from Santiago de Cuba, can already look back on a long and rewarding music career. “Changing our milieu is good for us as artists, you have to be willing to risk everything.”

A Cuban Singer Triumphs in Angola

Having finished recording her most recent album with an African label, Cuban musician Lindiana Murphy treats us to a wholly new experience and pieces that have already earned acclaim among listeners on the island. “The women in Angola were the ones who taught me the most,” said Lindiana in her interview with HT.

Japanese Woman Opens Restaurant in Old Havana

Tokyo-born Sayuri Yoshida has set up a small crepes and Japanese food establishment at the intersection of Aguacate and Obrapia Streets in Old Havana, drawing in more and more customers thanks to the distinction and variety of her menu.

Cuban Author Pedro Juan Gutierrez Launches New Novel

In different ways, Pedro Juan Gutierrez offers us a self-portrait in each of his books. On this occasion, he intentionally announces it with the title of Fabian y el caos (“Fabian and Chaos”), his most recent novel, just launched in Spain. Published by Anagrama, the novel scrutinizes a past more distant than the one tackled in the author’s Dirty Havana Trilogy.

Medieval Music in Cuba

I’ve been alerting readers to the imminence of a major, worldwide crisis for years now. Those of us concerned with this issue have a special interest in the Middle Ages, as we believe that a global crisis could bring about another Dark Age. After thinking about this for long, I came across a group of young Cubans who perform medieval music. Ensemble Medieval Lauda granted me an interview.

Cuban Jazz Musician Bellita and Her Band

Pianist, composer, percussionist and singer Bellita – one of Cuba’s leading jazz musicians – is the director of a quartet founded in 1997 that has performed at important venues around the world.

Havana: Uniting Peoples through Food

If you want to try something different and experience a wider range of tastes, head over to El Burrito Habanero (“Havana Burritos”), at the intersection of 23 and G streets. The restaurant was recommended to me three years ago by a fellow blogger. We interview the owner Javier Martinez. (16 photos)