By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Cuban singer Omara Portuondo, diva of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, will be coming back to Seoul in October for another concert.
Portuondo will be performing on Oct. 3 at Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center, as part of her ``Gracias'' Tour to promote her forthcoming album of the same name.
Her career has spanned over 60 years, but the 78-year old singer shows no signs of slowing down. Portuondo has been to Seoul several times, singing both Korean and Cuban songs at her performances. Last year, she also performed at the Seoul Arts Center, while in 2005, she held a concert at Yonsei University.
For this year's concert, Portuondo will perform with Harold Lopez Nussa on piano, Swami Jr. on guitar, Felipe Cabrera on double bass, Andres Coayo and Rodney Yllarza Barreto on percussion.
Portuondo was born in Havana, Cuba in 1930. In 1945, Portuondo began her career as a 15-year old dancer at the Topicana Club in Havana. In 1952, he and her elder sister Haydee formed a singing group, Cuarteto D'Aida, with friends Elena Burke and Moraima Secada.
A few years later, she recorded her first solo album ``Magia Negra,'' but she continued performing with Cuarteto las d'Aida until 1967. Portuondo started her solo career, recording albums throughout the 1970s and 80s. She toured throughout Latin America, and starred in films and television series.
Portuondo is the only surviving member of the Buena Vista Social Club, a popular members-only club in Havana where musicians played during the 1940s. Portuondo, as well as other members of the club such as guitarist Compay Segundo, pianist Ruben Gonzalez, and lead vocal Ibrahim Ferrer, gained international attention through Wim Wenders' documentary ``The Buena Vista Social Club.''
Portuondo did a duet with Ferrer on the album ``Buena Vista Social Club'' in 1996. Together with the Buena Vista group, they toured around the world and even performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
She also released ``Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo'' in 2000 and ``Flor de Amor'' in 2004. She won Best Tropical Album at the 2005 Billboard Music Awards for ``Flor de Amor.''
In 2007, she appeared in the lead role in the dance musical ``Vida." It tells the story of modern-day Cuba through the eyes of an old woman.
VIP tickets are 165,000 won. Other tickets range from 55,000 won to 132,000 won. Call (02) 563-0595 or visit www.interpark.com and www.ticketlink.co.kr.