Havana (EFE).- The legendary diva of the Buena Vista Social Club, Cuban Omara Portuondo, announced this Friday that, although she has left long concerts, she will continue making recordings and other activities.
“I won’t do long live concerts anymore because I get tired, and it’s natural because of my age. But I make it clear that I am not retiring from music. I will continue with my recordings, and other activities that my age and health allow me to do,” Portuondo said on the social network Facebook.
The message comes less than a month after, after suffering health problems during a concert in Barcelona (northwest Spain) on October 2, his son explained that his “definitive retirement from the stage” had been decided. On October 29, the artist turned 94 years old.
The one also known as “the girlfriend of feeling” added in her statement that “as long as she has the strength” and the support of family, friends and followers she will continue singing. “With respect from all the people who sincerely appreciate me, each person decides how they want to live and die too,” he wrote.
Portuondo stressed that “as long as I have the strength and people want to listen to me, I will continue singing. Because as I always tell you: music is in me, sky, earth, sea and sun, joy and reason.”
The extensive career of Omara Portuondo
On October 2, during a concert at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, the artist suffered an episode of “fatigue and disorientation” that forced her to leave the performance after performing the first song, the classic from her repertoire “Perhaps, perhaps.” ”, by Osvaldo Farrés.
The Cuban singer Omara Portuondo, in an archive photograph. EFE/Marshal
Portuondo, born in 1930, began her career in the 1940s accompanied by her sister Haydeé, performing Cuban music with a strong influence of genres such as bossa nova and jazz, entering the professional world shortly after.
With time, concerts and recordings, the Cuban artist first achieved national and, later, international recognition. In the latter he played an important role, especially to spread his name among the general public, working with the Buena Vista Social Club.
Portuondo, in addition to his extensive solo career – with works such as VIDA, Gracias and Flor de amor – has collaborated with artists such as Pablo Milanés, Chico Buarque, Chucho Valdés, Cachaito López, Jorge Drexler and Ibrahim Ferrer.
Among the awards that the Cuban singer accumulates are the 2005 Latin Music Award from Billboard magazine, the Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Tropical Album and the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts in Spain.
