"No doubt that Santiago de Cuba is the birthplace of many artistic expressions: the ballad, dance, visual arts and monumental," said Frank Fernandez on his visit to this city with motifs of the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the founding of the town and 62 of the assaults on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks.
The Cuban composer and pianist delighted the inhabitants of this city with its presentation at the cultural gala for the half millennium of existence of the villa, where majestically performed two musical works, in particular, that accompanied with the voice of the deceased heroine Vilma Spin.
At the opening of the art gallery "René Valdés Cedeño", attended by the artist, Frank Fernandez told reporters his feelings for this province:
"I would say that is the eastern capital Santiago, as it was before the administrative political division in 1976 and the birthplace of art," Fernandez said.
He further stressed the importance of the Santiago carnivals for the idiosyncrasies of the country and referred to the granting to the Carnival in Santiago de Cuba on the condition of Cultural Heritage of the Nation: "I think it is little. If Barranquilla is World Heritage, I think it should be a while Santiago Heritage, too.
"The thing that I have the carnival is my contact with the Los Hoyos conga, its members are my friends and I dedicated them to my work for two pianos," he said.
"I think the congas as the rumba-a little more to the West are too serious issues that have not been taken to the level of restraint it deserves. These two events should be, while, Heritage, "said Frank Fernandez.