There's a profound moment in Wim Wenders' film 'The Buena Vista Social Club' when Omara Portuondo and Ibrahim Ferrer have just finishedsinging the heartbreakingly beautiful 'Silencio.' The song says that if the flowers in her garden see her sadness they will surely wither and die. Asthey take the applause, a tear forms in the corner of Omara's eye. Ibrahim removes his handkerchief from his pocket and gently wipes away thetear. It is Wenders' favourite scene in the entire film for the way it encapsulates the bitter-sweet romance of Cuban music in a single frame.Often dubbed Cuba's very own Edith Piaf, for more than half a century Omara Portuondo has been thrilling audiences in the cabarets and nightspots of Havana with the passionate and moving honesty of her voice. She even became known as "the fiance of feeling," and Omara has longbeen Cuba's favourite musical sweetheart. Yet like Ibrahim Ferrer, she had to wait until 1997's Grammy-winning Buena Vista Social Club album -on which she was the only woman - to enjoy wider international recognition. Omara went on to become part of the legendary Buena Vista performances in Amsterdam and at New York's Carnegie Hall and appeared on the follow-up album, 'Buena Vista Social Club presents...Ibrahim Ferrer.' And then 'Buena Vista Social Club Presents...Omara', the third release in the series, finally placed her expressive voice centre stage where it belonged. At 78 years young, Omara Portuondo still possesses a rich, soulful voice that instantly transports listeners to sultry 1950s Havana. Gracias is her latest tropical cocktail of breezy jazz and infectious bossa nova, featuring a duet with celebrated Brazilian crooner, Chico Buarque.