Gustavo Lázaro

Born in La Habana. Member of the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba, where he stood out for his vocal quality and interpretive gifts, both in comic roles —Don Basilio, from El barbero de Sevilla—, and dramatic ones —Scarpia, from Tosca or Tonio, from I pagliacci—.

He studied singing at the Conservatorio Municipal de La Habana, with Francisco Fernández Dominicis and at the Instituto Vocal Central, in Sofía, Bulgaria, with Jristo Brámbarov (1964-1966).

He presented himself to the public in a concert of students of his teacher Dominicis, Conservatorio Municipal (1960).

He made his professional debut in La viuda alegre (Consejero del aire, 1962) and participated in the founding of the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba.

He stood out for his vocal quality and interpretive histrionics, both in comic roles —Don Basilio, from El barbero de Sevilla—, and dramatic ones —Scarpia, from Tosca or Tonio, from Los payasos—.

His repertoire also included the operas El matrimonio secreto (Gerónimo); La Traviata (Grenville); Don Pasquale (r. t.); Rigoletto (Sparafucile); La bohème (Marcello); Faust (Mephistophélès); Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio); Bastián y Bastiana (Colás); Aida (Amonasro) and the Spanish zarzuela Los gavilanes (Juan).

He was part of the cast of the world premiere of Ecue Yamba O (Isué), by R. Sánchez Ferrer (1986). In the Fonoteca de CMBF there is a recording of his interpretation of the character of Tonio, in Los payasos. He participated in the television versions of the zarzuela La tempestad (Simón) and the opera Aida (Rey), made in 1961 and 1962, under the direction of maestro Roig.

Gustavo Lázaro died in Spain, on January 29, 1996.