Aldo López-Gavilán Performs at La Madonna Luminosa in Havana Cathedral

Havana, Cuba — October 2026 — Pianist and composer Aldo López-Gavilán will give a special concert on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 p.m. in Havana’s Plaza de la Catedral, as part of La Madonna Luminosa, an evening celebrating the restoration of the great oculus of the Cathedral of Havana.

At the centre of the event is a temporary installation by Cuban artist Aluan Argüelles, created for the cathedral’s oculus while its historic stained-glass window is removed for conservation. Working with the natural light that enters through the opening, Argüelles’ image of the Virgin will temporarily take the place of the stained glass, maintaining a luminous presence within the cathedral throughout the restoration.

The conservation project, organised and financed by Cuba Foundation for the Archdiocese of Havana, addresses significant deterioration to the historic window, including missing glass panels and damage to its structure. The work involves historical research and documentation as well as reconstruction of the frame in old Cuban mahogany. Completion is planned to coincide with celebrations of the cathedral’s 250th anniversary in April 2027.

Born in Havana in 1982, Argüelles studied at the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro and the Instituto Superior de Arte, graduating in 2008. His work has since taken him beyond Cuba to Europe and the United States.

López-Gavilán’s performance will bring music into an evening where art, architecture and conservation come together in one of Havana’s most emblematic settings. Against the backdrop of the Cathedral and Argüelles’ temporary work, the concert will form part of a moment devoted not only to preserving an important piece of Havana’s heritage, but also to keeping that heritage alive through contemporary artistic creation.

La Madonna Luminosa is convened by Father Yosvany Carvajal, parish priest of the Cathedral of Havana, and Gustavo Arnavat, founder and executive president of Cuba Foundation, and produced by Perpetual Art Project.

Event Details

Aldo López-Gavilán at La Madonna Luminosa
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Plaza de la Catedral
Havana, Cuba