Martha Cardona Hernández

Soprano. Distinguished Cuban lyric singer and vocal professor.

She was born in Ciudad de la Habana. From a very young age she began singing in children's radio programs such as: Ronda infantil, on Mil Diez; Estrellitas, on Radio Progreso, and Los niños cantan, on Radio Cadena Habana, among others.

At fifteen years old she won first prize in La corte suprema del arte on Radio Mambí, which was directed by José Antonio Alonso. Shortly after she performed at the Escuela de TV, directed by Gaspar Pumarejo, where she also won first prize and began singing in the programs Hogar Club, Concurso de la canción cubana and Estampas de España.

She graduated in voice from the academy of the professor and great opera diva Mariana de Gonitch. She studied Solfège and Music Theory with professor Carmen González. In 1958 and 1959 she attended summer courses in Theatrical Arts at the University of Berkeley, California. She took acting courses with professors Modesto Centeno and Adolfo de Luis at the Teatro Lírico Nacional, and in dance and body expression with professors Loipa Araujo and Elsa Pagano at the Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión, and with Jorge Riverón and Raidelis Torres at the Teatro Lírico Nacional. She completed the Elementary Level of English and French.

She has performed in concert halls throughout the Island, and in cabaret productions performing works of Cuban and international lyric music. In 1970 she joined the ensemble of soloists at the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba in the specialty of zarzuelas and operettas, where she remains to this day.

In 1980 she began teaching Vocal Technique and was appointed professor of the Culture Department of the Plaza de la Revolución Municipality and professor of the Orfeón Plaza choir. In 1984 she was awarded the category of Principal Teacher at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), and taught classes there occasionally, until in 2000 she joined the faculty of that educational institution, where she remained for 7 years. Currently she works as a professor at the teaching unit of the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba.

Repertoire of works performed as protagonist
Cecilia Valdés
María la O
Amalia Batista
Lola Cruz
El cafetal
La malquerida
Luisa Fernanda
La leyenda del beso
Molinos de viento
Los claveles
Los bohemios
Las tonadillas
La Verbena de la Paloma
Los gavilanes
El dúo de la Africana
Las Leandras
La viuda alegre
El conde de Luxemburgo
Marina (in concert)
La del Soto del Parral (in concert)

Musical magazines
Las glorias del cuplé
Lo mejor de la zarzuela
De que gusta, gusta
Siempre zarzuela
Gala de Rosita Fornés

Countries visited as a performer
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico
Colombia
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
United States
Soviet Union
Greece

Artists trained
Yilam Sartorio (Soloist at the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba)
Milagros de los Angeles Soto (Soloist at the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba)
Olivia Menéndez (Soloist at the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba)
Marbelis González (Soloist at the Teatro Lírico de Pinar del Río)
Aimara Oliva (Opera of Canada)
Sheila Rizo (Opera of Germany)
Yelena Lafranque (Teatro de la Zarzuela de Madrid)
Maylú (Classical Crossover or lyric-popular singer)
Dani Barrios (popular singer)
Yaima Martínez (popular singer)

Awards and distinctions
First Prize of La corte suprema del arte
First Prize of Escuela de TV
Diplomas and recognition from private cultural societies before 1959
Award from Artistic Direction, Culture Department of Plaza Municipality
Raúl Gómez García Medal
Medal as Founder of Television
Diploma from the Office of the Historian of the City of Ciudad de la Habana for her contribution and trajectory in the lyric genre
Mariana de Gonitch Distinction, Plaza de la Revolución Municipality
Diploma For those who deserve honor, Plaza de la Revolución Municipality
Diploma for the 50 years of the Teatro Lírico Nacional de Cuba for her trajectory in the lyric genre