MIAMI, United States. – The iconic Cuban singer Omara Portuondo will partially retire from the stage after a career of more than seven decades and after the mishap suffered this Wednesday at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, from whose stage she had to be carried out in her arms.
The news was confirmed by his son and manager, Ariel Jiménez Portuondo, in a post on Facebookwhere he detailed the state of his mother’s health and the incident that led the family to make this decision.
Omara, who is about to turn 94 this October, suffered an episode of fatigue and disorientation during her performance on October 2 at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona. According to his son, “after performing the classic Maybe, maybe, maybeby Osvaldo Farrés, Omara showed signs of fatigue and disorientation, so we considered it best to remove her from the stage.”
The concert was part of a series of four special performances abroad that Omara had scheduled, together with the Failde Orchestra, as a way to say goodbye to her international audience.
As a result of the incident, the family has decided that Omara’s last public appearance will be next Sunday in Budapest, where a tribute will be paid to her. On this occasion, the singer will not perform any songs, but she will be present. “On this occasion Omara will not sing, she will receive love and applause,” her son clarified.
Jiménez Portuondo explained that Omara’s health has been closely monitored in recent years, with the support of her personal doctor, who has accompanied her for more than two decades on her tours around Cuba and the world. “Of course, due to his age and health conditions, he no longer offers extensive concerts and has said goodbye to many international stages,” he said.
However, he emphasized that the so-called “Bride of Feeling” will continue singing as long as she wants and can. “To deprive her of the possibility of singing, as long as she has the courage, vocal conditions and strength, would be to condemn her to sadness,” he said.
“She will continue rehearsing and recording from her home studio or participating in tributes and meetings with the public that wants to entertain her, only to the extent that her health and disposition indicate it,” said Ariel Jiménez.
Although the singer has considerably reduced the number of her live performances, Jiménez Portuondo stressed that music continues to be essential for her emotional and physical well-being. “Due to medical recommendations, the possibility of him continuing to sing, rehearse and record contributes favorably to his mental health, although at a moderate pace and always according to his physical condition,” he explained.
Omara Portuondo’s career has been one of the longest and most successful in Cuban music. She began her career in the 1940s as part of the female band Las Anacaonas, and then joined the group Cuarteto D’Aida, where she shared the stage with figures such as Elena Burke and Dried Moraima. However, it was her participation in the Buena Vista Social Club project, in the late 90s, that catapulted her to international fame.
The great musical star, however, has been 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 Lanchita de Regla in 2003.
