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Rita Montaner
Rita Aurelia Fulcida Montaner y Facenda (20 August 1900 – 17 April 1958), known as Rita Montaner, was a Cuban singer, pianist and actress. In Cuban parlance, she was a '' vedette'' (a star), and was well known in Mexico City, Paris, Miami and New York, where she performed, filmed and recorded on numerous occasions. She was one of Cuba's most popular artists between the late 1920s and 1950s, renowned as ''Rita de Cuba''. Though classically trained as a soprano for zarzuelas, her mark was made as a singer of Afro-Cuban salon songs including " The Peanut Vendor" and " Siboney". Throughout her career, Montaner kept a close personal and professional relationship with two famous musicians from her hometown of Guanabacoa: pianist-singer Bola de Nieve and composer Ernesto Lecuona.Fajardo, Ramón (1997). ''Rita Montaner: testimonio de una época''. La Habana. Life Montaner was born on 20 August 1900 in Guanabacoa, Havana, into a middle-class family. Her father, Domingo Montaner Pulg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Guanabacoa
Guanabacoa is a colonial township in eastern Havana, Cuba, and one of the 15 municipalities (or boroughs) of the city. It is famous for its historical Santería and is home to the first Afro-Cubans, African Cabildo (Cuba), Cabildo in Havana. Guanabacoa was briefly the capital of Cuba in 1555 after Havana was attacked by French pirate Jacques de Sores. This gave rise to the Cuban saying “Like putting Havana in Guanabacoa,” which is used to describe trying to fit something too large into a space too small. Guanabacoa was the site of the Battle of Guanabacoa, a skirmish between British and Spanish troops as part of the larger Battle of Havana (1762), Battle of Havana during the Seven Years' War. Overview The town of Guanabacoa is situated in the province of La Habana, some five kilometers (3.2 miles) to the southeast of La Habana (city) and south of the city of Regla. It rests on a small hill bordered by rivers. Guanabacoa was also the home of a small community of Florida Indians ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vocal Pedagogy
Vocal pedagogy is the study of the art and science of voice instruction. It is used in the teaching of singing and assists in defining what singing is, how singing works, and how singing technique is accomplished. Vocal pedagogy covers a broad range of aspects of singing, ranging from the physiological process of vocal production to the artistic aspects of interpretation of songs from different genres or historical eras. Typical areas of study include: : * Human anatomy and Human physiology, physiology as it relates to the physical process of singing. * Breathing and air support for singing * Human position, Posture for singing * Phonation * Vocal resonation or voice projection * Diction, vowels and articulation * Vocal registration * Sostenuto and legato for singing * Other singing elements, such as range extension, tone quality, vibrato, coloratura * Vocal health and voice disorders related to singing * Vocal styles, such as learning to sing opera, belt (music), belt, or art son ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eliseo Grenet
Eliseo Grenet Sánchez (12 June 1893 in Havana – 4 December 1950) was a Cuban pianist and a leading composer/arranger of the day. He composed music for stage shows and films, and some famous Cuban dance music.Giro, Radamés 2007. ''Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba''. La Habana. vol 2, p175 Eliseo was one of three musical brothers, all composers, the others being Emilio (Neno','' 1901–1941) and Ernesto (1908–1981). Emilio went on composing even after having a leg bitten off by a shark in 1930;Sublette, Ned 2004. Cuba and its music: from the first drums to the mambo'. Chicago. p406 Ernesto was a drummer who became leader of the Tropicana's orchestra. Life & work Grenet began piano lessons at the age of five, with his mother as an instructor. He entered Cuba's National Conservatory at the age of ten. Eliseo studied music under Mercedes Valenzuela and Leandro Simón Guergué, the father of Moisés Simons. In 1905 he played piano in the silent film ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater (formerly the Hurtig & Seamon's New Theatre; also Apollo Theatre or 125th Street Apollo Theatre) is a multi-use Theater (structure), theater at 253 125th Street (Manhattan), West 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is a popular venue for African Americans, Black American performers and is the home of the TV show ''Showtime at the Apollo''. The theater, which has approximately 1,500 seats across three levels, was designed by George Keister with elements of the Classical Revival architecture, neoclassical style. The facade and interior of the theater are New York City designated landmarks and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Nonprofit organization, nonprofit Apollo Theater Foundation (ATF) operates the theater and a recording studio at the Apollo Theater, as well as two smaller auditoriums at the Victoria Theater (Harlem), Victoria Theater. The Apollo was developed by Jules Hurtig and Harry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat (; ; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was an American musician and bandleader who was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. Originally from Girona, Spain, he spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba, before arriving in New York City in 1915. A trained violinist and arranger, he was the leader of the resident orchestra at the Waldorf–Astoria before and after World War II. Also a restaurateur in West Hollywood, he and his band appeared in numerous motion pictures in the 1930s and 1940s. He was also a cartoonist. The personal papers of Xavier Cugat are preserved in the Library of Catalonia. Life and career Cugat was born Francisco de Asís Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y DeulofeuXavier Cugat official webpage xaviercugat.com; accessed 8 November 2015. in |
Gonzalo Roig
Gonzalo Roig Lobo (Havana, 20 July 1890 – Havana, 13 June 1970) was a Cuban composer, pianist, violinist and musical director. He was a pioneer of the symphonic movement in Cuba. His most popular works are the zarzuela ''Cecilia Valdés#Zarzuela, Cecilia Valdés'' and the song "Yours (Quiéreme Mucho), Quiéreme mucho" (known in English as "Yours"). Life and career In 1902, he began to study piano, music theory and solfège and then later graduated in music studies at the Havana music conservatory, Conservatory. In 1907, he played part, as a pianist, in an ensemble (trio (music), trio), and thus started his very active career in music, composed his first musical piece ''Voice of misfortune'' for piano and solo voice. Two years later, he began playing violin at the Teatro Martí, Martí Theater in Havana. In 1917 he traveled to Mexico, and worked there briefly, returning to Cuba the same year. In 1922, he was co-founder of the Symphony Orchestra in Havana, of which he became m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jorge Anckermann
Jorge Anckermann (22 March 1877 – 3 February 1941) was a Cuban pianist, composer and bandleader. Havana-born, he started in music at eight with his father. At age ten he was able to substitute in a trio. In 1892, he went to Mexico as musical director of the bufo company of Nachos Lopez, visiting various Mexican states, and touring California. Anckermann lived in Mexico City for a number of years, teaching music. In Cuba, he was for many years the musical director of leading theatres. He composed and produced pieces for zarzuelas, reviews and comedies. He also composed boleros, and was apparently the originator of the guajira. The grand theatre ''Alhambra The Alhambra (, ; ) is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Muslim world, Islamic world. Additionally, the ...'' was the scene of his greatest hits, such as ''La isla de cotorras''. Fa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lola De La Torre
Dolores de la Torre Champsaur, better known as Lola de la Torre, (born 1902, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) was a Canarian musician and pioneer of musicology in the Canary Islands.Álvarez Martínez, Rosario. 2008. ''La música culta en Canarias: Exposición bibliográfica y documental''. La Laguna: Universidad de La Laguna, Servicio de Publicaciones, p. 11 Early life Lola de la Torre was born on September 25, 1902, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. She was the daughter of the baritone Néstor de la Torre Comminges and Dolores Champsaur Millares. She attended school on the island of Tenerife where her parents lived until 1918, and at the age of ten began studying the piano under Antonio Bonnin Fuster. Career Shortly after finishing school, in 1920, de la Torre moved with her family to Havana where she developed a music career. In 1921, she sang at the premiere of ''El Caminante'' by Eduardo Sánchez de Fuentes, directed by the author at the Gran Teatro de La Habana.Siemens Hernánd ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ponchielli
Amilcare Ponchielli (, ; 31 August 1834 – 16 January 1886) was an Italian opera composer, best known for his opera ''La Gioconda''. He was married to the soprano Teresina Brambilla. Life and work Born in Paderno Fasolaro (now Paderno Ponchielli) near Cremona, then Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, Ponchielli won a scholarship at the age of nine to study music at the Milan Conservatory, writing his first symphony by the time he was ten years old. In 1856, he wrote his first opera—based on Alessandro Manzoni's novel '' The Betrothed'' (''I promessi sposi'')—and it was as an opera composer that he eventually found fame. His early career was disappointing. Manoeuvred out of a professorship at the Milan Conservatory that he had won in a competition, he took small-time jobs in small cities and composed several operas, none successful at first. In spite of his disappointment, he gained much experience as the bandmaster (''capobanda'') in Piacenza and Cremona, arranging and composi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
La Gioconda (opera)
''La Gioconda'' is an opera in four acts by Amilcare Ponchielli set to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito (as Tobia Gorrio), based on '' Angelo, Tyrant of Padua'', a 1835 play in prose by Victor Hugo (the same source Gaetano Rossi had used for his libretto for Mercadante's '' Il giuramento'' in 1837). First performed in 1876, ''La Gioconda'' was a major success for Ponchielli, as well as the most successful new Italian opera between Verdi's '' Aida'' (1871) and ''Otello'' (1887). It is also a famous example of the Italian genre of ''Grande opera'', the equivalent of French '' Grand-Opéra''. Ponchielli revised the work three times; the fourth and final version was first performed in 1879 in Genoa before reaching Milan in 1880 where its reputation as the definitive version was established. There are several complete recordings of the opera, and it is regularly performed, especially in Italy. It is one of only a few operas that features a principal role for each of the six majo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alberto Villalón
Alberto Villalón Morales (7 June 1882 in Santiago de Cuba – 16 July 1955 in Havana) was one of the greatest musicians in the Cuban trova style. He was the only one of the 'four greats' of the trova to come from a well-to-do family. Villalón and his sister América studied guitar with Pepe Sánchez, the father of the trova movement. Later, he studied classical guitar to achieve a really excellent technique. He composed his first canciones and boleros at fourteen, and moved to Havana in 1900. In 1907 he recorded on ''Edison'' cylinders. In 1908 he formed the Cuarteto Villalón with Adolfo Colombo (tenor), Claudio García (baritone), Emilio Reinoso (mandolin), and Alberto Villalón (guitar). Colombo and García were regular members of the ''Teatro Alhambra'' company; Colombo was the most recorded singer of the age.Díaz Ayala, Cristóbal 1994. ''Cuba canta y baila: discografía de la música cubana 1898–1925''. p193 et seq. A difference between Villalón and the other early ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
