Humberto Lara

Born in La Habana, he made his professional debut in 1958 on the Bar Melódico program by Osvaldo Farrés on Televisión Cubana, and subsequently worked on all musical programs on Radio and Television.

In 1966, he became part of the cast of the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba as a Soloist Singer, having performed the leading tenor roles in countless Spanish and Cuban zarzuelas, as well as various operas and operettas.

Starting in 1972, he began simultaneously venturing into the Scenic Direction of works from the lyric repertoire.

In 1991 and 1992, he toured a large part of Spain with the anthology show of Cuban zarzuela "Mi Querida Habana", created and directed by him, which achieved resounding success. Subsequently, in 1993, it was presented at the Festival of the Arts in Costa Rica.

For more than 10 years he was Scenic Director during the opera and zarzuela seasons of the Fundación Arte Lírico in Bogotá, Colombia.

In 1993, the world premiere of his work La Malquerida took place at the Gran Teatro de La Habana, based on the homonymous tragedy by Don Jacinto Benavente, whose music and libretto are of his own authorship. Similarly in 2006, the world premiere of his Lyric Drama, "Realengo", took place at the same theater, based on the testimonial account by Pablo de la Torriente Brau, Realengo 18.

He has studied vocal technique, acting, dramaturgy, music, composition and specialization in the direction of Spanish zarzuela with maestro Emilio Sagi.

He has directed and worked with numerous performers and Musical and Artistic Directors, among them, the Spanish: Miguel Roa, Luis Remartínez, Angel Horta, Emilio Sagi, Juanjo Granda, Javier Ulacia, Angel Fernández Montesinos, Paloma Pérez Iñigo, Milagros Martín, Luis Cansino, Teresa Castal, Guillermo Orozco, Juana Castillo, Santos Ariño, etc.

In 1990, Televisión Española recorded the Cuban zarzuela "Rosa la China" by Ernesto Lecuona, whose version and Scenic Direction are of his authorship.

He is a holder of the Distinction for National Culture, awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Cuba.

He has conducted artistic tours to Russia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Germany, Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Colombia, among others.

SCENICALLY DIRECTED WORKS
SPANISH ZARZUELAS
La Leyenda del Beso
La del Soto del Parral
Los Gavilanes
Luisa Fernanda
La Rosa del Azafrán
La Tabernera del Puerto
La del Manojo de Rosas
El Dúo de la Africana
La Verbena de la Paloma
La Revoltosa
Los Claveles
La Corte de Faraón
Las Leandras

CUBAN ZARZUELAS
Cecilia Valdés
María la O
Rosa la China
El Cafetal
Lola Cruz
La Malquerida
Realengo.

OPERETTAS
La Viuda Alegre
El Conde de Luxemburgo
El Murciélago
La Casta Susana

OPERAS
Carmen
La Boheme
Elisir D'amore.
La Traviata
Los Payasos