Ramón Calzadilla Núñez

Cuban Baritone, born in Havana. He is considered one of the most well-known representatives of lyrical and popular music of the last century in Latin America.

He studied with Italian Director Arturo Bovi, who introduced him to the world of opera, giving him the foundation for what would be a prominent future in classical music. After Bovi, Calzadilla continued refining his talent with contralto Maria Pissarevskaya.

Later, when his teachers considered it was time to advance his professional career, the Revolutionary Government granted him a scholarship to study singing in Italy and Romania.

Calzadilla has performed on international stages around the globe, establishing himself as "the master" in 34 countries across 4 continents. His undeniable vocal talent, his histrionicism and stage presence led him to obtain in 1960 the first prize at the International Beniamino Gigli Singing Competition, as well as the jury prize at the City of Rome competition in Italy; and in 1962 the First Prize at the International Singing Competition in Toulouse, France.

During this period he obtained in Italy a trophy as recognition for his singing, presented by legendary singer Tito Schipa.

He developed great musical activity in Cuba, with recitals throughout the Island and radio and TV programs. Among Cuban lyrical singers of the second half of the twentieth century, he had the most notable international career.

He recorded several acclaimed albums in Latin America which include songs such as: Miedo al Desengaño, Nunca te lo Diré, Que Haré sin Ti, among others. In addition to his admirable musical career, his performance as an actor on stage interpreting leading roles in outstanding operas.

Calzadilla also dedicated his life to lepidopterology, as demonstrated by his butterfly collection, to which he also devoted much of his time, sharing his passion with his wife and children.

During a concert tour in Poland, when Ramón was the head of the Singing Department at the Superior Institute of Art in Havana, he met Colombian soprano Carmiña Gallo, married to Alberto Upegui, director of the District Institute of Culture, who invited him to teach a workshop at the Planetarium in Bogotá for a month in 1990. When his contract ended, the students wanted him to continue teaching them, and he did.

Gloria Zea, founder of the Opera of Colombia, hired him to help her prepare the 1991 season. "The challenge of providing training to young Colombian singers was difficult... there was no artistic tradition."

While rehearsals were taking place in El Camarín del Carmen, something unexpected happened: the baritone who was supposed to perform Mozart's Don Giovanni, hired to sing in seven performances, withdrew from the role. So Ramón, on whom the success of the work depended, had to sing under delicate health conditions, because his vocal cords had become inflamed by the dryness of Bogotá's climate combined with 12-hour rehearsals from Monday to Sunday, which required great effort. This period was the most stressful in the baritone's career, though he assures it was worth it because it allowed a new opera to be established in Colombia.

During his stay in the country—which was initially temporary—the girlfriend of Amir, his guitarist son, who was then 17 years old, became pregnant. The young couple married, so Ramón decided to reject a contract he had in Mexico to stay and live in Bogotá and support his grandson. Today, Ramón has four grandchildren, three Colombian and one Cuban.

The Master
The silence that reigns in one of the blocks of the quiet neighborhood is interrupted by a loud vocalization coming from a window. Passersby who pass unaware turn to look to identify the source of such a particular sound. Climbing the stairs leads to the room where Ramón Calzadilla Núñez teaches singing. A keyboard, one of his butterfly paintings and a piece of furniture full of sheet music set the daily atmosphere of this artist. On the wall are some plaques recognizing his contributions to the country's musical culture and a poster of a student who dedicates to him the success of launching her album "Amo esta tierra."

In these 20 years Ramón has taught students who have brought honor to the country. He cannot calculate an exact number of students. He teaches classes every hour, from 8 in the morning to 8 at night. He is currently a Singing Professor at the Tolima Conservatory.

In the opera world he is known for his sound pedagogical guidance and the prestige he has throughout the world.

According to Miguel Pinto, Cuban violist, composer and orchestra conductor, Ramón enjoys widespread respect in Cuba for being the most important founder of the singing chair. Furthermore, "he has been a jury member in 3 Tchaikovsky Singing Competitions. He has sung in Russia the opera The Prince Igor."

To take his class, one not only needs to have a good voice, but also sensitivity and awareness toward study.

Among these hundreds of students, there are about ten who are Ramón's greatest pride. Most teach singing in different academies and conservatories and are also figures in Colombian opera and folk and popular songs. Among them is the master Beatriz Mora, who was his student for five years and assures that Calzadilla boosted her ego as a singer, and gave her the confidence and peace of mind regarding her register, and that classes with him allowed her to understand and do at will the things she previously did by habit. At the beginning, it was difficult for many.

Carol Yadira González, a master at several universities, is another of his outstanding students. Although Carol has solid musical training, she still attends coaching sessions before interpreting a role.

However, in certain vocal teaching circles the master awakens some reservations, which according to Marissa Pérez, another of his former students, are due to the fact that there is no other teacher with the same experience in Colombia and "there are those who cannot bear to be confronted." This is due, above all, to the cultural clash between forms of learning.

Before coming to Colombia 20 years ago, Calzadilla was director of the Superior Institute of Art in Havana. On opera and vocal technique he has reflected in his books: The Song and Its Secrets (Havana, 1998), The Song and Artistic Creation (Havana, 2006) and About Song and Its Study, in process of publication.

Calzadilla is one of the most recognized singers and teachers worldwide thanks to his level of demand and the achievements of his students.