Cuban Classical Music in Exile: A Centennial Celebration

Centennial Tribute to Maestro Aurelio de la Vega
Pasadena, California

On a luminous evening in Pasadena, the Guerra String Orchestra, under the direction of Latin GRAMMY® Award-winning composer-conductor Yalil Guerra, presents an unforgettable concert event of profound artistic and historical significance. This extraordinary program celebrates the centennial of legendary Cuban-American composer Aurelio de la Vega, honoring one of the most distinguished voices in Cuban and Latin American concert music.

A composer of international stature, De la Vega’s music embodies intellectual brilliance, emotional depth, and artistic courage. Rooted in modernist language yet unmistakably shaped by Cuban sensibility, his work stands as a powerful testament to the enduring vitality of Cuban classical music beyond the island’s borders.

More than a concert, this event is a cultural statement. Cuban Music in Exile explores the powerful artistic legacy created by Cuban composers living beyond their homeland—artists who transformed memory, identity, and displacement into music of extraordinary beauty and universal resonance.

At the heart of this historic evening will be the world premiere of Two Movements for String Quartet (1945) by Aurelio de la Vega, performed by the Hispano String Quartet. Audiences will witness, for the very first time, a previously unheard work from the early creative years of one of Cuba’s most influential composers—a rare and remarkable musical discovery. The concert will also feature De la Vega’s acclaimed works Elegía and Variación del Recuerdo, offering a moving portrait of his artistic voice and legacy.

The evening will also unveil the world full premiere of The Olympian Gods, a monumental new work for string orchestra by Dr. Yalil Guerra. Inspired by the grandeur and mythology of ancient Greece, the symphony explores power, beauty, wisdom, conflict, and transcendence through a bold, cinematic, and emotionally charged musical language.

In dialogue with the tribute to De la Vega, The Olympian Gods represents the continuation of a living artistic lineage—the passing of creative fire from mentor to disciple, from one generation of Cuban composers to the next.

Presented in the inspiring setting of Pasadena’s vibrant cultural community, this one-night-only event promises an evening of passion, heritage, discovery, and world-class artistry. From historic premieres to powerful orchestral storytelling, Cuban Music in Exile invites audiences to experience music that transcends borders and speaks directly to the soul.

Join us for a historic celebration of legacy, innovation, and the enduring spirit of Cuban classical music.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

St. Andrew Catholic Church, 311 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, United States

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