Emma Viel

The mezzo-soprano was born in La Habana. She studied singing in New York and in La Habana with Mariana de Gonitch and Zoila Gálvez and performed for the public in theatrical shows, on radio and television, and with the Banda Nacional de Conciertos, directed by maestro Roig.

She was part of the chorus in the premiere of the definitive version of Cecilia Valdés (teatro Payret, 1961) and the group of founding artists of the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba, where she began performing in the chorus and in small roles.

Later she performed the lead role in Luisa Fernanda (1968), Los gavilanes (Adriana), La del soto del parral (Aurora), La verbena de la Paloma (Susana), La revoltosa (Soledad) and performed in several operas: La traviata (Flora), Cavalleria rusticana (Lola), among others.

With her interpretation of Isabel Ilincheta in Cecilia Valdés, she toured some countries in Eastern Europe in 1974.

She has also performed in Colombia and Venezuela. She is married to baritone Rafael Aquino.