{"id":14588,"date":"2025-12-16T12:56:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T11:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/?p=14588"},"modified":"2026-03-27T16:17:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T15:17:09","slug":"the-sarahbanda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/the-sarahbanda\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sarahbanda"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Sarahbanda grew out of Sarah Willis\u2019s idea to firmly integrate the classical horn into a Cuban band for the first time\u2014an idea inspired by her successful project <em><a href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/mozart-y-mambo\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"9913\">Mozart y Mambo<\/a><\/em>. To realize this vision, she brought together an ensemble of outstanding Cuban musicians who share her passion for salsa, son, and mambo, blending these styles with new and distinctive sound colors.<br><br>The band\u2019s debut album was released in 2024, featuring fresh arrangements of popular Cuban classics as well as original compositions, including works by Jorge Arag\u00f3n, Edgar Olivero, and other members of the ensemble. While always remaining true to the Cuban tradition, the Sarahbanda continues to develop and expand it. The ensemble regularly appears at major festivals and concert venues, including the Lucerne Festival, the Rheingau Music Festival, the Berlin Philharmonie, and Schloss Elmau. In 2025, their second album, <em>Cuban Christmas<\/em>, was released by Deutsche Grammophon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center anchor\" id=\"video\">VIDEO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group holder_videos has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8798a4\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"video_container\">\r\n<div class=\"video_wrap\">\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/rDE5qX0nZmU?si=l_IkaQfmbTYMFFjq\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"video_container\">\r\n<div class=\"video_wrap\">\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/OF74M6ueieI?si=p7KiW1lCtUgLJp3h\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"video_container\">\r\n<div class=\"video_wrap\">\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/OaNXWXQHB9M?si=tfV2OiC9aK1OPzhB\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center anchor\" id=\"presse\">PRESS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pressestimmen has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8798a4\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center intro\">&#8220;The fire and the underlying passion of Cuban music smoldered throughout the entire evening. (\u2026) Nothing here was showy or overstated; everything came across as completely authentic.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center quelle\">Mainpost, 17 October 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center intro\">\u201eWillis\u2019s ever imaginative and skilful playing brings its own character to the variety of Cuban popular dance explored here.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center quelle\">BBC Music Magazine, November 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center intro\">\u201eSarah Willis&#8217; desire to combine the incandescent character of these works with her unique vision of musicality has been fulfilled beautifully.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center quelle\">El mundo cl\u00e1sico, 17. September 2024<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center anchor\" id=\"projekte\">PROJECTS 2027\/28 &#8211; A SELECTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group rahmen rahmen_culture_blue has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8798a4\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group downloads_files\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-333b7991-969d-4ee7-9435-3180a4bbd7f9\" href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda_EN_27-28.pdf\">&#8211;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda_EN_27-28.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-333b7991-969d-4ee7-9435-3180a4bbd7f9\">Projects 2025\/26 (PDF)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group rahmen rahmen_culture has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8798a4\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"intro\">Dates upon request<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"intro\"><strong>THE SARAHBANDA <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sarahbanda\u2019s program combines classical works and Cuban music into a stylistically distinctive, high-energy sound world. At its core is the idea of shaping traditional Cuban dance rhythms\u2014son, mambo, guaracha, bolero, and guajira\u2014through new arrangements in which the horn is organically integrated into the typical Cuban banda instrumentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The repertoire includes both iconic Cuban classics such as <em data-start=\"85\" data-end=\"98\">Sandunguera<\/em>, <em data-start=\"100\" data-end=\"111\">Chan Chan<\/em>, <em data-start=\"113\" data-end=\"127\">Pare Cochero<\/em>, <em data-start=\"129\" data-end=\"142\">La Comparsa<\/em>, and <em data-start=\"148\" data-end=\"166\">Guajira Sencilla<\/em>, as well as original compositions by the musicians themselves, for example by Yuniet Lombida or Ayl\u00edn Pino. These works are presented in contemporary, often subtly and imaginatively expanded arrangements that highlight the interplay between horn, saxophone, violin, piano, and percussion. The program is further enriched by newly reimagined versions of European works\u2014including Mozart\u2019s <em data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"563\">Romanza<\/em> and Bizet\u2019s <em data-start=\"576\" data-end=\"586\">Habanera<\/em>\u2014which are reinvented in a Cuban style without losing their melodic identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"video_container\">\r\n<div class=\"video_wrap\">\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/Ifo1UscXmG0?si=DFiXm6uC5jSmohXw\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group rahmen rahmen_culture has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8798a4\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"intro\">Dates upon request<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"intro\"><strong>CUBAN CHRISTMAS <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With <em data-start=\"31\" data-end=\"48\">Cuban Christmas<\/em>, the Sarahbanda presents an extraordinary holiday program that casts well-known international classics in a new, warm, and rhythmically pulsating light. Familiar Christmas melodies\u2014from <em data-start=\"235\" data-end=\"249\">Jingle Bells<\/em> and <em data-start=\"254\" data-end=\"268\">Silent Night<\/em> to <em data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"292\">The Christmas Song<\/em>\u2014are intertwined with the rich tradition of Cuban dance music. Salsa, danz\u00f3n, bolero, son, and mambo are not used as mere stylistic decoration; instead, they form the musical foundation into which the themes of the original works are woven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many arrangements originate from Sarahbanda&#8217;s close artistic circle, including Edgar Olivero and Jorge Arag\u00f3n, who understand how to combine the characteristic colours of Cuban music with chamber music refinement. In addition, there are arrangements of classical works, such as a reimagined intermezzo from Tchaikovsky&#8217;s Nutcracker Suite or an arrangement from Bach&#8217;s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, both of which take on a \u2018Christmassy\u2019 Cuban character without losing their Baroque structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"video_container\">\r\n<div class=\"video_wrap\">\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/aII8kg9s8VM?si=Mv1gDECaaEnyujdI\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center intro\">&#8220;This is for those who want something different, and something hot.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center quelle\">The Times, 18 December 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center intro\">&#8220;You can\u2019t sit still to this one.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center quelle\">The Observer, 7 December 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center intro\">&#8220;The Cuban Nutcracker Suite is not to be missed: \u2018Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy\u2019 is a touch of percussive genius.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center quelle\">Gramophone, 9 December 2025<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center anchor\" id=\"downloads\">DOWNLOADS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group rahmen rahmen_downloads has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group downloads_picts has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8798a4\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"548\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda_Sebastian-Haenel_2_vorschau.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14551\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-b0319562-65dd-4220-95a1-dee3ec7afd92\" href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda_Sebastian-Haenel_2.jpg\">&#8211;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda_Sebastian-Haenel_2.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-b0319562-65dd-4220-95a1-dee3ec7afd92\">THE SARAHBANDA press photo 1<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group downloads_picts has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8798a4\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"548\" height=\"365\" src=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Sarahbanda_CubanChristmas_c_Victor-Cervantes_vorschau.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14547\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-dfb057e5-1404-4c6c-bbda-074e08947376\" href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda-in-Havana-2-photo_-Victor-Cervantes.jpg\">&#8211;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda-in-Havana-2-photo_-Victor-Cervantes.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-dfb057e5-1404-4c6c-bbda-074e08947376\">THE SARAHBANDA presse photo 2<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group downloads_files has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-a357aa41-a094-47e9-905c-943b338831eb\" href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bio_Sarahbanda_25_26-1.pdf\">&#8211;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bio_Sarahbanda_25_26-1.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-a357aa41-a094-47e9-905c-943b338831eb\">Biography THE SARAHBANDA (PDF)<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-dd816901-c75b-48b4-9eb4-0ea6db11e239\" href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda_EN_27-28.pdf\">&#8211;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-Sarahbanda_EN_27-28.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-dd816901-c75b-48b4-9eb4-0ea6db11e239\">Projects 2026\/27 (PDF)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Sarahbanda grew out of Sarah Willis\u2019s idea to firmly integrate the classical horn into a Cuban band for the first time\u2014an idea inspired by her successful project Mozart y Mambo. To realize this vision, she brought together an ensemble of outstanding Cuban musicians who share her passion for salsa, son, and mambo, blending these [&hellip;]<a href=\"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/the-sarahbanda\/\" class=\"more-link\">MORE &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14592,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-ensembles.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,52],"tags":[73,74,75],"class_list":["post-14588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-projects-en","category-young-and-different","tag-mozart-y-mambo-en","tag-sarah-willis-en","tag-the-havana-lyceum-orchestra-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14588"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15405,"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14588\/revisions\/15405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andreasrichter.berlin\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}