Straight from Havana! Orquesta Buena Social Club Comes to the Long Center This Fall

The Grammy winning ensemble Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club stops in Austin, Texas on the Adios Tour this October- bringing the history, excitement, and culture of Cuban music to the Long Center. The thirteen piece band, who's most recent album "provides a gorgeous reminder of what made it so famous to begin with -- and what we'll all be missing," plays their final tour together this year. Tickets are on sale today!

Named after the members club in Havana, Cuba that closed its doors in the 1940s, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club became an international success, and the ensemble was encouraged to perform with a full line-up in Amsterdam in April 1998. German director Wim Wenders captured the performance on film and the one that followed on the 1st of July 1998 in Carnegie Hall, New York City for a documentary -- also called Buena Vista Social Club -- that included interviews with the musicians conducted in Havana.

The success of both the album and film sparked a revival of international interest in traditional Cuban music and Latin American music in general. Some of the Cuban performers later released well-received solo albums and recorded collaborations with international stars from different musical genres. The "Buena Vista Social Club" name became an umbrella term to describe these performances and releases, and has been likened to a brand label that encapsulates Cuba's "musical golden age" between the 1930s and 1950s.

Several surviving members of the Buena Vista Social Club, such as trumpeter Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal, laúd player Barbarito Torres and trombonist and conductor Jesus "Aguaje" Ramos currently tour worldwide, to popular acclaim, with new members such as the singer Carlos Calunga, virtuoso pianist Rolando Luna[1][2] and occasionally the solo singer Omara Portuondo, as part of a 13-member band calledOrquesta Buena Vista Social Club.

Tickets are available at TheLongCenter.org or by calling (512) 474.LONG (5664). Also available at the Long Center's 3M Box Office located at 701 West Riverside Drive at South First Street. For groups of 10 and more, call 512-457-5161 or groupsales@thelongcenter.org.

The Long Center is Austin's Creative Home, built "by the community, for the community." The organization is primarily funded by private citizens and corporations and by nature understands the importance of giving. As a non-profit, the Long Center collaborates with community partners to sponsor educational programs, host free events on the City Terrace, subsidize rental costs for emerging art groups, and gift tickets to charitable and community-minded organizations. The Long Center also provides the best overall live entertainment experience of any venue in Austin. It is home to the Symphony, Opera and Ballet and boasts additional eclectic programming spanning diverse audiences. A commitment to acoustic excellence combined with exceptional theater site lines and an unparalleled outdoor view of Austin creates a magical experience and lasting memories. Austinites of all ages and interests are invited to explore the Long Center to expand their cultural perspective and appreciation of the arts. For more information, visit TheLongCenter.org or call (512) 474-LONG (5664) for ticket information.

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