National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba to Perform First American Tour Oct. 22

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at University at Buffalo will present the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba on Monday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts, UB North Campus.

Since its inception in 1960, the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba has been instrumental in developing and introducing Cuban and Latin American music to the international classical music community. In addition to covering a vast symphonic and chamber repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary music, the orchestra will be performing internationally renowned pieces.

Piano soloist Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera stunned Cuban audiences at the age of 12, performing "Rachmanioff's Concerto No. 2" with the Havana Symphony Orchestra. In 2009, Herrera toured as a member of the Afro Cuban All Stars. His love of classical music quickly combined with traditional Cuban rhythms under the instruction of the Cuban masters -- Ruben Gonzalez, Jorge Gomez Labrana and Frank Fernandez. In his 20s, Nachito became the musical director at the famous "Tropicana" in Cuba where he continued to deepen his repertoire.

The concert will include Gershwin's "Cuban Overture" and "Rhapsody in Blue" as well as Beethoven's "Symphony #5" and Lecuona's "La Comparsa." The National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba is led by music director Enrique Perez Mesa and will feature composer Guido Lopez Gavilan as guest-conductor.

Tickets for National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba are $47 and $37 general admission, and $20 for students and children. Tickets are available at the Center for the Arts Box Office (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and through tickets.com. To charge tickets call 1-888-223-6000. For more information call 716-645-2787 or visit http://www.ubcfa.org.