Xavier Cugat was one of the most world-renowned Catalan artists. Now he finally has the homage he deserves: a show that goes over the cinematic life of this Catalan musician who became one of the big stars of Hollywood’s golden age.
Francesc d’Assís Xavier Cugat Mingall de Bru i Deulofeu, known by everyone as Xavier Cugat, was born on 1 January 1900 in Girona and died on 27 October 1990 in Barcelona. It could be said that his life is a journey through the history of the 20th century. The show I sing a song about bananas (a tropical evening with Xavier Cugat) captures the spirit of the last century and focuses on the exciting professional career of this multi-faceted artist. Violinist, arranger, caricaturist, cartoonist and conductor are just a few of the facets that you will discover about this peerless and gobsmackingly talented artist who had a finger in practically every creative discipline. But if there's one thing we ought to be grateful to him for, it’s his having become one of the main promoters of Latin and Afro-Cuban music all around the world. The exotic rhythms of his orchestra and sensual voices of his singers won over millions of fans and left an immense cultural legacy.
The show was written by Helena Tornero, the author of theatrical works such as Suplicants, Mein Kapital, No parlis amb estranys (fragments de memòria) and Búnquer. Performing on stage are big names from the world of musicals, including actress Anna Moliner, and actors Xavier Ruano and Ferran Vilajosana, as well as the Taller de Músics’ Original Jazz Orchestra, conducted by David Pastor, and the voices of Saphie Wells, Eva del Canto and Antonio Navarro . The band is tasked with bringing back to life the great orchestras that triumphed under Xavier Cugat's baton, when live music was the indisputable queen of the industry. They will be treating us to the great musical hits of the only Catalan artist who could presume to have four stars on the Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame.
Welcome to a big party that will be filling the Teatre Grec with tropical rhythms, sounds of maracas and an overwhelming desire to dance.
A 2020 Barcelona Grec Festival and the Taller de Músics co-production.
The show will be broadcast live by betevé on Tuesday, 28 July, at 10 pm.
Stage director: Ester Nadal Script: Helena Tornero Performed by: Anna Moliner, Xavier Ruano, Ferran Vilajosana Musical performers: Taller de Músics’ Original Jazz Orchestra Vocal singers: Saphie Wells, Eva del Canto, Antonio Navarro Original Jazz Orchestra conducted by: David Pastor Arrangements by: Santi Galan, Joan Monné, Alfons Carrascosa Photography: Maud Sophie Andrieux
