Havana - Elected by millions of people, Havana will today formalize its registration among the seven modern wonders of the world, in a monument with commemorative plaque, organizers said.
To celebrate the occasion, the city had prepared an outdoor concert in Old Havana's historic center, declared a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO, but persistent rains forced a change of plans. The show will now take place at the Alicia Alonso Gran Teatro in Havana, the provincial government told reporters.
The Concert Band, the Lyric Theater Company, the Liz Alfonso ballet company, Entrevoces chorus, the National Folkloric Group, the Cabaret Tropicana Ballet and famous musical group Buena Vista Social Club are expected to participate in tonight's artistic gala, its director, Ephraim Sabas, said.
Havana will show, "through several cultural events, its most wonderful attractions and the human quality of the people who live here," the specialist said.
These activities will last until June 11th. They include academic lectures, painting exhibitions, the procession of traditional and contemporary dancing groups, known as "comparsas" at Paseo del Prado and a sports festival.
To close today's activities, the legendary Orquesta Aragon, one of the icons of Cuban dance music, will give a great concert, Sabas said.
An allegorical sculpture has been erected at the open area of the Castillo de San Salvador de La Punta declared as the 'Wonder City'. The title is the result of the global competition organized by the Swiss foundation, New7Wonders (N7W).
Beirut (Lebanon), Doha (Qatar), Durban (South Africa), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), La Paz (Bolivia) and Vigan (Philippines) received similar awards.
The New Seven Wonders of the World was the third vote by N7W. It has previously chosen seven monuments and seven places of outstanding natural beauty in contemporary times.
The election was a 'global democratic exercise', carried out by a wide range of devices and multiple platforms, the president of the Foundation, Bernard Weber, said at the time.
