“Santiago de Cuba loses one of its most exceptional talents,” laments the Cuban Institute of Music (ICM).
Miami, United States. – Cuban flutist Rubén Leliebre del Toro died Monday, According to TV Santiago. The Cuban Institute of Music (ICM) expressed his “deep regret” For the death of the musician, born on August 6, 1981, and stressed: “Santiago de Cuba loses one of its most exceptional talents, whose musical legacy enriched national and international culture.”
The ICM also stressed that Leliebre devoted his life to music as “instrumentalist, composer and arranger of broad recognition.” The institution said: “Cuban music is mourning, but its essence will continue to vibrate in each note that Leliebre gave us; the ICM, together with the Ministry of Culture, extends its most felt condolences to family, friends, colleagues and fans.”
“His departure leaves a vacuum in the musical panorama, but his legacy will survive through his compositions and arrangements, which today are heritage of Cuban culture,” the institution added.
TV Santiago said that the Leliebre del Toro’s wake, held on Tuesday, attended, among others, the musician Cándido Fabré – whose group served Leliebre – and Rosa María Prades Bell, director of the Company Company of Music and the Miguel Matamoros shows.
According to the reports of TV Santiago and THE ACNLeliebre was an active member of the Union of writers and artists of Cuba (UNEAC) and integrated groups such as Cándido Fabré and his Band and the SEPTETO SONS DE EAST; In addition, he occasionally collaborated with Juan Formell and Los Van Van. As a creator, he obtained awards in national competitions, including the Chepin Choven Prize, and participated in record projects such as CD Giant flutes (2023), along with another 63 exponents of the instrument of 20 countries.
His works with him SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO and José Alberto The Canarian “They also fructified in prizes of the Latin Academy of Music (Latin Grammy)”, according to the obituaries cited.
The Orlando flutist Maraca Valle publicly regretted the death. “The Cuban flute is mourning. (…) The excellent flutist and person Rubén Leliebre has died. I have been speechless and totally in shock before this unexpected and very sad news,” He wrote on Facebook.
He also recalled his artistic link with Leliebre and his participation in the album Giant flutes: “It was a superxplosive flutist with an extraordinary flavor and a huge ability to improvise and a cubanía of high carats. It was also an excellent person with an impressive modesty and humility.”
“We have undoubtedly lost one of the best exponents of the current Cuban flute,” Maraca Valle concluded.
