SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico.- The Cuban singer Omara Portuondo93, was carried off the stage in her arms at the beginning of a concert in Barcelona because she was disoriented, according to the newspaper. The Country.
The episode occurred this Wednesday, October 2 when, at the opening of the Cruïlla Tardor festival 2024 at the Palau de la Música, Portuondo was removed by two members of her orchestra after she remained silent, disoriented, at the beginning of the song black tears.
Portuondo would be accompanied by the Faílde Orchestra. Amid cheers from the audience, Omara took the stage but couldn’t do much more than pronounce only a part of the chorus of Black tears.
“The expectation has transformed into disbelief, when the singer only managed to accompany the orchestra with a small part of the song’s chorus Black Tearss, and remained silent even though the orchestra continued playing. After several unsuccessful attempts by the musicians to get her to resume her performance, Portuondo has only managed to sing the verse ‘with you I am leaving my saint, even if it costs me to die’, and has finally been carried away in the arms of two members of the orchestra, again, amid applause from the public,” reported the Spanish media.
Omara’s would be the opening concert of the festival on a day that closed with countless formal complaints presented by those attending the concert, according to reports. The Country.
There was no shortage of shouts of “exploiters” from the audience, but Ethiel Faílde, director of the orchestra, considered this a lack of respect and argued that Omara herself had asked to sing.
The Cruïlla team reported that the artist had had to leave the stage for “health reasons” and that they would contact the attendees to return their tickets.
Over the years, Portuondo, close to turning 94, has collaborated with numerous renowned artists and musicians, both in Cuba and internationally.
Portuondo’s association with the Buena Vista Social Club, a group of veteran Cuban musicians, earned him worldwide recognition.
The great musical star, however, is a fervent defender of the Cuban regime.
He has to his credit the signature of the letter that supported the execution of the three young people who attempted to kidnap the Regla boat in 2003.
His signature accompanied that of others who supported the crime against Afro-Cubans, judged by Law No. 93 of 2001, Law against Terrorist Actsaccused of diverting Regla’s boat in Havana Bay with the purpose of emigrating to the United States.