Huberal Herrera Lescano

One of the best pianists in Cuba. He graduated as a Doctor in Law, Bachelor in Administrative Law and Bachelor in Diplomatic Law and Consul from the University of Havana.

In 1936 he enrolled at the Hubert de Black Conservatory in the piano class of Arcadio Menocal, and in solfège and theory with Hortensia Rojas; in 1944 he graduated from that institution, where in 1951 he took a course of improvement with Menocal; in 1952, he enrolled at the Municipal Music Conservatory of Havana, today Amadeo Roldán, to study with Virginia Fleites, harmony; Harol Gramatges: counterpoint, and Argeliers León, music pedagogy.

Subsequently, he took courses with Soviet professors Joseph Goorevich, harmony at the keyboard, and interpretation of Russian music, with Stanislav Pochekin, technique of piano performance; with the Bulgarian Katya Kasndjeva, and improvement of the style of interpretation of Spanish music, with Juan Bernal.

In 1954 he debuted at the Lyceum Lawn and Tennis Club, presented by the cultural society Nuestro Tiempo, about this presentation María Antonieta Henríquez expressed: "The young pianist showed a great faculty of expression handled with discretion and sobriety, uncommon in performers whom youth leads, frequently to spectacularity".

Between 1957 and 1959, he undertook a tour that covered Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In 1961 he traveled with the National Ballet of Cuba through Asia and Europe, where he performed with the Symphonic Orchestras of China, Soviet Union, German Democratic Republic, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria.

In 1963 he toured the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia as accompanist pianist for baritone Ramón Calzadilla. He also toured Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Colombia.

He has performed on different occasions with the National Symphonic Orchestra, conducted, among others, by Enrique González Mántici, Roberto Sánchez Ferrer, Manuel Duchesne Cuzán, Alexander Frolov, Odissey Dimitreadi and Janos Sandor, in different places on the island.

In 1999, Huberal Herrera Lescano participated as invited guest by American Composer Orchestra, at the Festival Sonido de las American held in New York, dedicated to the music of Cuban composers, in which he performed works by Ernesto Lecuona, Félix Guerrero, Marco Rizo Ayala and Juan Piñeira.

The work of pianist composer Ernesto Lecuona found in Huberal one of his most diligent researchers and gifted interpreters, from which he rescued for posterity ancient recordings, resulting in three CDs recorded in Spain by the General Society of Authors and Publishers, SGAE.

Work
Varied Theme: Toccata.

Distinctions
Founding member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), he has received the distinction "Nicolás Guillén". He was awarded the Medal for National Culture, granted by the Ministry of Culture, as well as the "Raúl Gómez García Medal", Literacy Medal. He also received the Commemorative Medal 40th Anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Revolution, granted by the Council of State. The Giraldilla Distinction, granted by the Provincial Government of the City of Havana.

The scholar and Grand Master Huberal Herrera proudly received the "Punta de Sílex" Symbol decoration granted by the Municipal Assembly of Popular Power of Mayarí, his hometown.

Criticism
"Huberal Herrera is a brilliant pianist possessed of a beautiful sound like the greatest virtuosos of that instrument, who interprets Cuban music as we would always wish to hear it".
Gonzalo Roig, composer, Cuba.

"For some years now Huberal Herrera is the most faithful and conscientious interpreter of Lecuona's piano work…. Culture is especially indebted to Huberal Herrera".
Orlando Martínez, musicologist, Cuba.

"He demonstrated in the executions of the works a surprising precision of rhythm and an admirable conception of dynamics".
Luigi Nono, composer, Italy.

"And what was not our surprise when the pianist performed for us with perfect mastery some classical pieces worthy of the greatest concert artists".
La Gazette, Lebanon.

"If I close my eyes I believe it is my brother whom I listen to".
Elisa Lecuona, Cuba.

"The pianist Huberal Herrera demonstrated refined technique in Beethoven, an exact concept of the Andalusian in Turina, and in a primary way affinity with the composers of his island".
Radio Cinema Magazine, Spain.

"A special attraction was constituted by Huberal Herrera who gave us an idea of his artistic value by impeccably interpreting "Malagueña" by Ernesto Lecuona and "Ritual Fire Dance" by Manuel Falla".
Le Journal d'Égypte, Egypt.

"He developed work of intense musicality supported by a demonstration of virtuosity that was no obstacle for us to hear phrasing full of delicacies, in lyrical coloring, delicious in its nuance, while exquisitely embroidering the themes of this second Rachmaninov Concerto".
Conchita Gallardo, Cinema Magazine, Havana, Cuba.

Celebration
In May 2009 he celebrated his 80 years and 55 years of artistic life, in a concert at the Amadeo Roldán theater, among family, friends and admirers.

Source: Ecured