News

Sharp Writing

Opinion

Face to Face

Boleros and coffee, with Maria Elena Pena

Autor: Abel Rojas | Fuente: www.radiorebelde.com.cu | 07 de Julio 2012

Havana, (Radio rebelde). - "I think bolero can never go out of fashion. This is a genre for any couple, young or not, that like to dance and cuddle", said the famous Cuban singer Maria Elena Pena. She recently visited “Asi” cultural radio show, at the main studio of Radio Rebelde station.

"Nowadays, the youth demands the fashionable and it is logical. Bolero is a long-standing genre and everything has its own space. For instance, the middle-aged like to hear a bolero and this is a genre dedicated to love", argued the so-called Bolero Queen during an interesting dialogue with host Pedro Martinez.

The outstanding singer told the audience about her latest album "Between bolero and coffee", produced by “Ojala” record house, under Bis Music’s license. She also thanked those that helped her produce her record, especially singer and songwriter Silvio Rodriguez. She described him as "a dream mender, a dwarf that came to mend my dream of almost 50 years."

Maria Elena elaborated on this project, her first production in solitary. It is named after one of the album themes, written by Cuban composer Silvia Gonzalez.

The singer explained that Emilio Vega was the musical producer of fifteen songs written by well-known composers. Some of them are Pedro Romero’s "A little bit to give", Omar Romero’s "Giving up", Ruben Rodriguez’s “I will carry on” and Pepe Delgado’s "Soul Matters."

“Cesar Portillo de la Luz, who is celebrating his 90th birthday these days, wrote the tune titled "Reality and Fantasy." In fact, he will be paid a small tribute at the next Golden Boleros Festival."

"Between bolero and coffee" was nominated in the past XVI Cubadisco 2012 Fair, in the ballad category. The outstanding singer said joyfully, “This nomination is a reward to this work that has given us so much pleasure.” She announced that the album is on sale in every shop of ARTEX chain.

Maria Elena Pena’s artistic career of almost five decades was highlighted at the interview. In her beginnings, she was the lead singer of Franco Lagana’s “Combo”, a band founded in the late 1960’s.

"The band was very well-known. I sang there until 1972, when I started as a soloist in a production called "Fair, Love and Fantasy", for Havana Riviera Hotel. We worked under the conduction of maestro Tomas Morales, with Orlando Quiroga as scriptwriter", Maria Elena explained. In the 1970’s, she was one of the hosts in “Buenas Tardes TV show.”

"In those years, I was known as a soloist for the songs "Far from the truth", "Don´t forget me" and "I feel in love today." The latter was a version made by Franco Lagana of Italian Gianni Morandi’s hit “Linda Belinda.”

Maria Elena pointed out, "I also had the privilege of making a joint album with Beatriz Marquez, titled "They (the ladies) sing bolero.” The Bolero Queen has toured several Latin American, European and African countries in her career.

She referred to the promotion of this kind of music and said the Golden Boleros Festival is organized every year by the National Association of Cuban Artists and Writers. "However – she stressed - I think it is not enough. This genre, so Cuban and worldwide popular, requires much more promotion."

The XXIV Golden Boleros International Festival will take place from June 21 to 24. Maria Elena is scheduled to sing in the closing gala, to be held at “Mella” Theater, in this capital.

"This year the Festival will be outstanding, because great singers, both national and foreigners, will take part. I am excited with all the work that the Festival Musical Director, Jose Ramon Artigas, is doing." The singer also said it is a great opportunity to enjoy bolero and promote this genre in our country, especially for people that really love romantic music.

Maria Elena Pena pleases her fans with her melodious voice every Thursday, starting 9:00 PM at the House of ARTEX. That facility is located in 18 St. and 5th Avenue, in Miramar.

This wonderful singer of Cuban romantic music said goodbye to the audience singing one of the tunes of her album "Between bolero and coffee." It was "If I only could", written by young musician Lucilo Valdes.