Gonzalo Roig
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gonzalo Roig, Cuban musician and composer, was born in Havana, Cuba on July 20, 1890 and died in the same city on June 13, 1970. Starting from 1902 he began studies in piano, music theory and solfège in Havana and later became senior in music studies at the Conservatory there.
In 1907 he played part, as a pianist, in an ensemble (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 Marti Theater in Havana. In 1917 he traveled to Mexico, and worked there briefly, and returning to Cuba in the same year. In 1922 he was co-founder of the Symphony Orchestra in Havana, of which he become music director, and is considered as the pioneer of symphonic movement is Cuba.
In 1927 he was appointed director of the Municipal Music Band of Havana, where he made countless contributions to the Cuban music, the position he held until his death. In 1929 he founded the Orchestra of Ignacio Cervantes which, a year later, was invited by the Pan American Union to lead a series of concerts in The United States of America. In 1931, while participating in creation of the National Theatre, he composed and premiered (next year) his zarzuela (form of Spanish operetta), Cecilia Valdés, which was considered as the most representative of the Cuban lyric theatre.
In 1938 he founded the National Opera in Havana, which he directed for few years. He traveled frequently and gave performances in many parts of the world. He founded the Society of Cuban Authors, National Federation of Authors of Cuba, the National Union of Authors of Cuba and the National Society of Authors of Cuba.
Besides his Cecilia Valdés he was the composer of many popular songs, Yours among others.
