More than five thousand people braved the predicted storm in Valencia and flocked to the Roig Arena to experience Cuba, embodied by the iconic Silvio Rodríguez, during his tour of Spain.
Mayte Piera, present at the concert, shared her firsthand experience of meeting the singer-songwriter in an exclusive interview with the Cuban News Agency via WhatsApp.
“The city is collapsing and I’m singing… As Raimon said, ‘al meu pais la pluja no sap ploure’ (in my country the rain doesn’t know how to rain), and that’s exactly what happened last night.
“Approaching the second anniversary of the DANA storm, those of us from Valencia who suffered through it couldn’t help but feel a certain degree of unease at the announcement of torrential rain and the alerts warning of what might happen last night.
“Before entering the concert, many of us eyed with suspicion the dark clouds that had been covering the city’s sky since 6:00 p.m.
“But once we crossed the threshold of the Roig Arena, reality changed completely. Neither that palpable unease in the air, nor even the ‘es alert’ we received on our phones halfway through the concert, could break the spell of what was happening inside, nor diminish the emotion of seeing Silvio give his all in a sublime concert.”
“At times, beauty triumphed over the cruel reality unfolding outside. The forecast was coming true, and Valencia was flooding while we, oblivious to the water and mud, sang along with Silvio and his band to the beautiful repertoire of songs that played for over two hours.
“A true delight that began with the raspy voice of Ismael de la Torre, the Cuban singer-songwriter invited by Silvio to be the opening act, and ended with the marvelous ‘Por quien merece amor’ (For Whom Love Is Due), sung by the five thousand people who filled the Roig Arena.
“A happy night that, for a few hours, protected us from the downpour outside. The time would come to return to reality and start bailing out the water that had flooded everything. Until then, Silvio’s magic kept us safe.”
“Mayte couldn’t return home Wednesday night because the roads were flooded, but she’ll be taking with her more than two hours of classic and recent songs by the author of “Ojalá.”
After a decade-long absence, Valencians were reunited with Silvio Rodríguez; the singer-songwriter will then perform in A Coruña on the 19th; Seville on the 26th; Murcia, at the bullring, on October 1st; and will close his tour in Madrid on the 4th at the Movistar Arena.
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
