Jorge Bolet's recital in Windhoek, South West Africa was actually on 2 February, not 6th, so there is some mixup in his datebook. The Windhoek Advertiser (16.1.76) reported that there was a strong possibility theatre-goes would boycott the recital of the 'Cuban pianist' as they felt strongly about Cuban involvement in Angola 'and seem to resent the fact that a Cuban pianist is going to appear in the Windhoek Theatre. In an interview this morning Dr E Grobbelaar, Director of SWAPAC, stressed the fact that Mr Bolet left Cuba before the regime of Fidel Castro and is now an American citizen.
'A New York journalist reports as follows: "[When asked, Mr Bolet replied:] I am a hero to the Cubans in exile and I am a hero to my former good friends who are still living in Cuba. Now the name of Bolet is very, very much on the black list in Cuba. I always felt that if I ever got on a plane that was highjacked, I would be separated at once and would probably be grilled and put through the third degree."' The edition of 28 January, however, predicts a full house.
The Windhoek programme was all-Chopin (as in Salisbury). This was the rainy season and there was soaking rain for 20 hours. A Boeing of South African Airways had some difficulty getting in at Strijdom [now Hosea Kutako International] Airport on the morning of 3 February. Jorge's recital was more favourably - though briefly - reviewed, in contrast to Salisbury. 'No music is more fitting to be played these days than Chopin's, for he possessed civil courage, chivalry, modesty, dignity and grace, and all these attributes are expressed in his music.' Etudes 3,4, 7 and 11 Op. 25 and Ballade No. 2 were declared 'a revelation' and his pianissimi and 'delicacy of touch' were generally noted. (Travel permitting, Jorge may have enjoyed dining at the first Wienerwald restaurant to open in Africa - at the Hotel Continental on the 3rd.)