Sept 26, -- The Fifth Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival kicked off Wednesday in this eastern Cuban city of Santiago de Cuba, from where it will travel to Havana, wraping up on October 13.

The event, which features presentations by artists from Cuba and ten other countries, will pay tribute to a roster of universally acclaimed artists. Distinguished Cubans include Harold Gramatges and Ernesto Lecuona, along with the Czech David Popper, the German Paul Hindemith, the French Francis Poulenc and the English Benjamin Britten.

This is the first time this Festival reaches eastern Cuba, where it opened Wednesday evening with the Eastern Symphony Orchestra at the Dolores Hall.

An associated conference "Oldest Musical Heritage of Santiago de Cuba" will feature presentations by the scholars Miriam Escudero, Claudia Fallarero, Franchesca Perdigón, Iránea Llilian Silva and Perez, as well as choir performances by the Santiago Choir and Eastern Symphony Orchestra.

Cello Plus, Brouwer Flamenco and For the Lady Elf will be the three spaces offering more than 40 national and world premiere performances.