Xiomara Alfaro | |
---|---|
![]() Xiomara Alfaro as a young woman | |
Born | May 11, 1930 Havana, Cuba |
Died | June 24, 2018 Coral Gables, Florida |
Occupation | Singer |
Xiomara Alfaro (May 11, 1930 – June 24, 2018 [1]) was a Cuban coloratura soprano. [2] Her interpretation of Cuban composer and pianist Ernesto Lecuona's " Siboney" was the composer's favorite. [2]
Alfaro was born in Havana. She was a musical child, and won a contest for young singers sponsored by Radio Suaritos; she regularly appeared on Radio Suaritos broadcasts, which led to further opportunities. Her sister Olympia Alfaro was also known a singer. [3]
Alfaro was a star of the Cuban music scene of the 1950s. [4] She was in the original cast of Batamú (1951), a musical revue by Obdulio Morales. She became famous as a singer of bolero music, with a clear, strong soprano voice well suited to the genre. [5] She was known as "El Ruiseñor de la Cancion" (The Nightingale of Music) and as "La Alondra de la Cancion" (The Lark of Music). [5] [6]
Alfaro's film appearances included a vocal performance alongside the Katherine Dunham dancers in Mambo (1954), [7] [8] and a role in Olé…Cuba! (1957), which also featured fellow Afro-Cuban singer Celia Cruz. [9] She made more than two dozen recordings for RCA Records and other labels. [10]
"I'm a very spiritual person," she explained in a 2007 interview. "I try to transmit to my audience when I sing. God gave me a gift. And when God gives you something, you use it." [10]
Alfaro was married to Panamanian pianist Rafael Benitez. She fled Cuba in 1960. She died in 2018, in Cape Coral, Florida, at the age of 88. [12]
Xiomara Alfaro | |
---|---|
![]() Xiomara Alfaro as a young woman | |
Born | May 11, 1930 Havana, Cuba |
Died | June 24, 2018 Coral Gables, Florida |
Occupation | Singer |
Xiomara Alfaro (May 11, 1930 – June 24, 2018 [1]) was a Cuban coloratura soprano. [2] Her interpretation of Cuban composer and pianist Ernesto Lecuona's " Siboney" was the composer's favorite. [2]
Alfaro was born in Havana. She was a musical child, and won a contest for young singers sponsored by Radio Suaritos; she regularly appeared on Radio Suaritos broadcasts, which led to further opportunities. Her sister Olympia Alfaro was also known a singer. [3]
Alfaro was a star of the Cuban music scene of the 1950s. [4] She was in the original cast of Batamú (1951), a musical revue by Obdulio Morales. She became famous as a singer of bolero music, with a clear, strong soprano voice well suited to the genre. [5] She was known as "El Ruiseñor de la Cancion" (The Nightingale of Music) and as "La Alondra de la Cancion" (The Lark of Music). [5] [6]
Alfaro's film appearances included a vocal performance alongside the Katherine Dunham dancers in Mambo (1954), [7] [8] and a role in Olé…Cuba! (1957), which also featured fellow Afro-Cuban singer Celia Cruz. [9] She made more than two dozen recordings for RCA Records and other labels. [10]
"I'm a very spiritual person," she explained in a 2007 interview. "I try to transmit to my audience when I sing. God gave me a gift. And when God gives you something, you use it." [10]
Alfaro was married to Panamanian pianist Rafael Benitez. She fled Cuba in 1960. She died in 2018, in Cape Coral, Florida, at the age of 88. [12]