Christine Allado Records New Version of 'El Manisero' for THE PEANUT VENDORS Short Film
Marcin Mazurek arranged the track, which accompanies a short film screening on the international festival circuit.
Actor and filmmaker Amílcar Franco has announced the release of a new single, arriving 14 August 2026: a contemporary recording of the iconic Cuban song El Manisero, performed by Grammy‑nominated vocalist Christine Allado (Hamilton, The Prince of Egypt).
The track accompanies Franco's analogue short film The Peanut Vendors, currently circulating in international festivals, including a nomination at the International Sound & Music Film Festival in Croatia, chaired by Oscar‑nominated actor Ciarán Hinds.
Allado's interpretation brings theatrical immediacy to one of Latin America's most influential musical works, connecting Cuban heritage with contemporary performance. Her clarity, musicality, and emotional precision - familiar from her acclaimed stage roles - revive the iconic melody first recorded by Rita Montaner in 1927.
The new rendition features a fresh arrangement of Moisés Simons' original composition by Marcin Mazurek, arranger of the single and composer of the BAFTA‑winning short Rock, Paper, Scissors. Mazurek threads Allado's vocals through a contemporary musical landscape that complements the film's analogue rhythm and theatrical tone.
The Peanut Vendors includes narration by Alex Jennings, three‑time Olivier Award winner - and the only performer to have won in drama, musical, and comedy - known internationally for The Crown. Jennings' narration brings classical theatrical gravitas to the film, grounding its story in performance tradition. His contribution belongs exclusively to the film's narrative and is not part of the musical recording.
'Rita Montaner's 1927 recording of El Manisero inspired us to pair Christine Allado's voice with Alex Jennings' narration - a dialogue between cultures that ultimately defines what the film is about.' - Amílcar Franco
Together, the new single and the internationally screened short film celebrate Caribbean musical history through contemporary performance, offering a fresh tribute to the legacy and global impact of El Manisero - a melody that has travelled from Havana to London, from Rita Montaner to modern theatre artists.
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