Spring Revolution festival:
CuCu Diamantes
“The Sins of Picasso”
Thursday, March 8th – 7pm
About the Show
PECADOS DE PICASSO (The Sins of Picasso) is a musical theater jazz cabaret piece by Grammy nominated singer and songwriter CuCu Diamantes. Evoking themes of the #MeToo movement, the performance exposes the sordid and overlooked history of famous artists from the 20th century, namely, their treatment of women, minorities and creative communities in their personal lives, and consequently, their art.
Musically, the themes are a mosaic of melodies and rhythms that combine a respect for traditional Cuban and Latin music with contemporary arrangements. Discerning listeners will hear the picaresque, double entendre of traditional trova cubana, with references to 20th century art and culture.
Sins of Picasso is produced by Red Hot. The concert will raise funds to help fight AIDS and gender equality in Cuba and Caribbean communities. Visit www.redhot.org to learn more.
Musical Director: Alain Perez
Photo credit: Leandro Feal
About the Artists
CuCu Diamantes
CuCu Diamantes (born La Habana, Cuba) is a renowned singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist. She began her musical career singing backup vocals for a salsa band in Rome, where she was studying art. After finishing her studies, she moved to New York City and founded the band Yerba Buena with Andres Levin. The band’s debut, President Alien, was nominated for a 2004 Grammy. In 2009, Diamantes released her Grammy-nominated solo debut Cuculand. And in 2012, CuCu’s feature-length film, Amor Crónico, premiered at SXSX, directed by Jorge Perugorría, and produced by Andres Levin and Sarah Green. The film follows CuCu across Cuba as an ironic road movie showing parts of Cuba most people never see to the great using a mix of comedy and poetic tragedy inspired by the films by Fellini and Almodovar. In 2014 CuCu took part of Fatima, a film based on the novel by famous Cuban writer Miguel Barnet and directed by Jorge Perugorría. Diamantes also has participated in several artistic productions and events that advocate for social justice and political activism. Diamantes performed in Amnesty International’s “Price of Silence” video, making a plea for universal human rights. Diamantes has also performed in the “Podemos con Obama” video, inspired by will.i.am‘s “Yes We Can” video, in support of Barack Obama. She also participated in the Obama Latin Inaugural Ball. Diamantes is a spokesperson for Amnesty International’s “Protect the Human” and “Stop Violence Against Women” campaigns. In 2009, Diamantes performed at a peace concert in Cuba for over a million fans. She is also a co-founder and artistic ambassador for Music Has No Enemies, a nonprofit designed to spread social justice through film and music.
