MIAMI, United States. – The Cuban Institute of Music (ICM) reported this Friday that the concert by singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés, originally scheduled for June 21 in the Sala Avellaneda of the National Theater of Cuba, was moved to the Ciudad Deportiva coliseum.
The announcement occurred after numerous protests on social networks due to the sale of tickets almost exclusively to Cuban state agencies, which has been denounced as a State Security strategy to prevent possible opposition demonstrations during the Milanés concert, critical of the Cuban Revolution.
According to the ICM, the change in the location of the concert seeks to “facilitate greater attendance at the concert,” which is part of the “Días de Luz” tour that has taken the Cuban singer-songwriter to stages in the United States and Spain.
According to the note published by the ICM on Facebook, the change of location was agreed with the Artistic Office of Pablo Milanés.
“The authorities of the institution and Pablo Milanés’ team have taken into account the requests of those who have expressed interest in participating in the show,” reads the official note.
“The tickets sold at the National Theater of Cuba retain their validity. People who wish to return them can do so at the box office of the theater itself and will receive the corresponding amount, ”he also details.
Meanwhile, it specifies that the tickets for the concert at the Sports City will be sold at the National Theater of Cuba, this Saturday, June 18, starting at 1:00 p.m. Access to the coliseum will begin at 6:00 p.m. on June 21 and the concert will start at 8:30, as planned.
“In the conception and organization of the show, we have worked with seriousness and transparency. The consideration that this is a concert for the people has prevailed, which deserves to enjoy the work of a great artist”, concluded the ICM, in a veiled allusion to the recent reactions of people interested in attending the Milanés concert.
This Wednesday, after standing in a queue for hours to buy tickets, several Cubans denounced that the tickets had sold out just 50 minutes after the start of the sale, since they had been delivered mostly to state “organizations”.
To the displeasure of those present, the director of the National Theater, Nereyda López Labrada, came out to give “explanations”. Only “stalls and the first balcony” were sold to the population. (…) A number of tickets were taken out for sale to the public and the other amount was given to organizations,” said the official, who could barely continue speaking due to the reaction of the outraged Cubans.
Meanwhile, in various videos Shared through social networks, claims such as: “It’s a shame” are heard; “They are sold out because the UJC and the Ministry of Culture reserved them, and this town that has not slept to buy the tickets, cannot access it.”
“I believe that there is an entire people wanting to listen to it”, “I support that tickets be given to institutions because we are all workers and we are all Cubans and the institutions can have their capacities reserved but they have to be sold to the public and that there is transparency in the figures”, were other claims.
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