Pura Ortiz Arteaga

Distinguished Cuban pianist and pedagogue.

She was born in La Habana. She pursued musical studies at the conservatories "Fischermann" and "Levy".

She began her artistic career in 1951 and worked as a solo pianist and repertorist for Channel 2 of Cuban television. In 1962 she joined the roster of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, with which she performed as a soloist in 1965. She was part of the Trío de La Habana (1964-1979) and the Conjunto Instrumental Nuestro Tiempo (1971-1990).

Between 1992 and 1995 she worked with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Córdova, España, with which she participated in the staging of the operas La Bóheme, Tosca, El Trovador, Don Pasquale and the zarzuela Cecilia Valdés. As a solo pianist she excels in the interpretation of Cuban composers Manuel Saumell, Ignacio Cervantes, Amadeo Roldán and Alejandro García Caturla, and Spanish music composed by Joaquín Turina, Manuel de Falla, Granados and Isaac Albéniz.

As an accompanying pianist she has carried out distinguished work with Cuban and foreign vocal and instrumental soloists. She has developed her teaching work at the Conservatorio "Amadeo Roldán", the Escuela Nacional de Música and at the Instituto Superior de Arte. She is currently pianist of the Teatro Lírico Nacional, the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, and of the voice class of professor Lucy Provedo, at the Faculty of Music of the Instituto Superior de Arte.

Discography
(Long-playing record-Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales): Contradanzas de Manuel Saumell (3694), 1975.
Distinction
She holds the Distinction for National Culture and the "Alejo Carpentier" Medal.