Silvio Rodriguez, between music and politics at a concert in Washington.

Maria Pena Washington, June 20 .- The Cuban singer Silvio Rodriguez in Washington has offered a concert full of nostalgia, symbolism and a unique request to the U.S. President, Barack Obama, the release of so-called "five in Cuba, imprisoned since 1998 on charges of espionage.

Cheered by about 3,000 people, most Latin American immigrants, Rodriguez take the concert to launch the petition to Obama.

"We're, cheap darkfall gold, a few blocks from the White House. With all due respect to Mr. Obama, to free our heroes," said Rodriguez, to request the release of the Five in Cuba. "

Dressed in jeans, shirt and cap, Rodriguez I dedicate, as it has done throughout his U.S. tour, his first after an absence of 30 years, "the" Song of the elect "in an acoustic, jumpgate evolution credits, concert that was made possible by granted him the visa that the Obama administration.

With its unmistakable, clear voice as ever, despite his 63 years, which Rodriguez was received rock star, interrupted by several "I love you" and "Bravo, Silvio", screamed the whole lung, and endless requests for his extensive repertoire .

His fans, willing to pay between 76 and, sto energy credits, 180 dollars to see him, accompanied him on many songs such as "Playa Giron", "Unicorn," "Ojala," "The drop of dew," "I dream of snakes" and "was this birth to a heart. "

They also waved flags of Cuba, Ecuador and some other red flag of the Salvadoran Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN). And they shouted slogans like "Viva Cuba" and "Viva Fidel."

And is that the DAR Constitution Hall joined past and present, and Rodriguez played the vein of nostalgia for those who, in the past, fled the repression in countries such as Argentina, Chile or El Salvador.

His songs, after all, accompanied the student movement for social justice in these and other countries in the Americas.

Silvio, forever synonymous with the new trova, is also, for millions, the maximum expression of the ideals of peace and unity among peoples.

Thus, in "Guardian Angels", Silvio makes mention of the coup in Chile in 1973 and 2001 attacks in the United States, and makes another request: "Let's be useful and better, and much less selfish."

In his brief exchange with the public, Silvio alternate between humor, replying "You're hired" a man apparently drunk and chanting one of their songs, and seriousness, reminded the audience: "We are all very important, all people and all countries, without exception. "

With thunderous applause, the audience obliged him to return to the stage four times, to sing songs like "bleeding Heart", "The fool", "Pequena serenata diurna" and perhaps the most classic of its themes, "Unicorn."

Olga Gonzalez, also received a standing ovation, accompanied him on the flute on several tunes, while other musicians they did with guitars and drums.

Silvio repeat the success it has achieved since the beginning of the month at Carnegie Hall in New York, then in Hollywood, and now in Washington, better known as the seat of American political power as a hotbed of liberalism and liberal causes in the U.S..

Their next performance will be next June 23 in Orlando, a city in southern Florida, wherelies most of the anti-Castro exiles.

Although controversial for his dnse of the Cuban revolution, two of his fans explained to that the success of Silvio is their way of making poetry with history, their songs full of philosophy and social commitment and, besides, being a genius with the guitar.

"I have moved us here, very close to the White House, Latin American legend. This seems very symbolic, because it attests to the importance of having closer ties between the U.S. and Cuba, which the two countries have been denied long time, "said David Maza, of Peruvian origin.

At the end of the concert, Silvio warned: "You can live without many things, but it is difficult to live without music, living without poetry."

"Unforgettable was all. I felt very close to all the poetry, the message of peace and solidarity among countries and peoples, because beyond the limits that can make a policy, so there are people with feelings and that is what Silvio has made clear, "said Fernanda Rosso, of Colombian origin. mp / AGF