Cleveland Museum of Art's VIVA! & Gala Series Launches with "Flamenco Queen" and Latin Grammy Nominee Buika, Oct. 20

CLEVELAND (Oct. 8, 2010) – The Cleveland Museum of Art's VIVA! & Gala performing arts series opens its 2010-11 season on Wednesday, Oct. 20, with the first major North American tour of Afro-Spanish singer Buika. The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the museum's Gartner Auditorium.

Buika has been dubbed the "Flamenco Queen" for her unique blend of flamenco, jazz, soul and blues music, described as "luminous ... magnificent ... superb" by The New York Times. She also was named one of the world's "50 Great Voices" by National Public Radio, and London's Sunday Times called her "one of the most glorious voices to emerge on the international stage."

Buika was born on the island of Mallorca to African immigrant parents from Equatorial Guinea. There, she found in flamenco's individualistic spirit a path to self-acceptance, and her evident African roots and cosmopolitan style have made her one of today's most popular Spanish artists.

"It's not just about music, it's a way of life," she has said. "It's about not running away from yourself. Some people sing about what they would like to happen or would like to be, but in the copla and el cante, we confront who we are, with all our fears and all our defects. In the United States, there's also a great tradition like this: It's called the blues."

Buika's latest recording El Ultimo Trago (The Last Drink) was nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards, including Recording of the Year for the song "Se Me Hizo Facil" and Best Traditional Tropical Album. Buika recently recorded a duet with Seal that will be featured on his upcoming CD and completed her screen debut for director Pedro Almodovar's film La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I'm In.)

The Cleveland Museum of Art is just the third stop on Buika's 21-city tour, which also takes her to Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas and Miami this fall.

Tickets for Buika are $39 or $35 for the general public and $38 or $34 for museum members. The performance is part of the season's "Faces of Latina Performers" miniseries, which also includes a Cuban dance troupe, Peruvian ensemble and Israeli singer of Sephardic Ladino songs.

Group and student rates are available. Pending availability, students can purchase "Pay What You Can" tickets at the door for any VIVA! & Gala performance.

Tickets are available through the museum's online box office at www.ClevelandArt.org or by phone at 216-421-7350 or 888-CMA-0033.

VIVA! & Gala 2010-11 Season
VIVA & Gala has built a reputation among regional audiences for bringing one-of-a-kind artists to Cleveland, and the 2010-11 season is no exception, with 21 performances from 10 different countries.
Programs are made possible in part by The Ernest L. and Louise M. Gartner Fund, The P.J. McMyler Musical Endowment Fund and The Anton and Rose Zverina Music Fund. Additional support provided by the Musart Society. Support for the "Faces of Latina Performers" miniseries is provided by Kathryn Karipides and David Brown in memory of their beloved friend May Chicris. The official media sponsor is WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream.

Subscriptions for the series are on sale now. Subscribers save up to 25 percent off single ticket prices through packages that include all concerts ($416-$460 non-members; $401-$443 for museum members) or select programs ($178-$325 non-members; $169-$315 for museum members). Individuals may also choose to create their own, custom packages by selecting four or more concerts at a savings of 5 percent. Details can be found at www.ClevelandArt.org.

Single tickets for individual performances are available by calling the Cleveland Museum of Art box office or online at www.ClevelandArt.org.

About the Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 40,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. Currently undergoing a multi-phase renovation and expansion project, it is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship, performing arts and art education. Admission to the museum is free.

The Cleveland Museum of Art has a membership of more than 21,500 households and is supported by a broad range of individuals, foundations and businesses in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. The museum is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Additional support comes from the Ohio Arts Council, which helps fund the museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. For more information about the museum, its holdings, programs and events, call 888-CMA-0033 or visit www.ClevelandArt.org.