Esther Borja facts for kids
Esther Borja Lima (born December 5, 1913 – died December 28, 2013) was a famous Cuban singer. She was known for her beautiful voice, especially in opera and operettas. Esther Borja lived to be 100 years old!
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Esther Borja's Early Life and Training
Esther Borja was born in Havana, Cuba. She started learning music at a young age. Juan Elósegui taught her about solfége (reading music notes) and music theory (how music works). She also learned how to sing from Rubén Lepchutz. In 1934, she finished her studies and became a teacher.
Starting Her Singing Career
Esther Borja began her singing career in 1935. That year, she performed with the famous musician Ernesto Lecuona on the piano. They played at the National Theatre in Havana, which is now called the Gran Teatro de La Habana. She also sang at the Auditorium Amadeo Roldán.
In 1935, she sang a waltz called Damisela encantadora. This song was part of an operetta (a light opera) called Lola Cruz, also by Ernesto Lecuona. People described her voice as a "beautiful mezzo-soprano". They said she had clear singing and a good feeling for the music.
A Leading Singer in Cuba
When Esther Borja started her career, Rita Montaner was the biggest musical star in Cuba. Rita Montaner was also a great pianist. Over time, Rita Montaner began to focus on different types of music. She moved towards Afro-Cuban roles and movies. She also had popular radio shows.
Esther Borja, however, mostly stayed focused on singing. She became known for her operatic and zarzuela performances. She eventually took over some of the soprano singing parts that Rita Montaner used to perform.
Touring the World
First International Tours
Esther Borja went on her first international tour in 1936. She traveled to Argentina with Ernesto Lecuona, his sister Ernestina, and another musician named Bola de Nieve. This group even made a movie together in 1937 called Adiós, Buenos Aires. Esther stayed in Argentina until 1943.
From Argentina, Esther Borja sang and performed zarzuelas (Spanish musical plays). She sang works by Lecuona and other composers. She also toured other countries in South America. These included Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Performing in the United States
In 1943, Esther Borja returned to Cuba for a short time. She performed in concerts organized by Eliseo Grenet. Soon after, she left for New York City in the United States.
In New York, she performed with Lecuona at the Steinway Hall. Then, a composer named Sigmund Romberg hired her. She sang with his orchestra at the famous Carnegie Hall. She completed five tours of the USA with Romberg's band.
Return to Cuba and Later Career
Eventually, Esther Borja returned to Cuba. She continued her singing career there. She performed in operettas and zarzuelas. She also sang on the radio. Her last performances in the lyric theatre were in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain, in 1953.
For twenty years, starting in 1961, she hosted a TV show in Cuba. The show was called Álbum de Cuba. She sang in many places across Cuba. Esther Borja passed away on December 28, 2013, at the age of 100.
CDs
These are some of the music collections (CDs) that feature Esther Borja's earlier recordings:
- Canta a varias voces (1991)
- Rapsodia de Cuba (1992)
- Musica de Lecuona (1993)
- Canciones cubanas (1994)
- Longina (1999)
- Canta a dos, tres y cuatro voces (2004)
