Esther Borja Lima (5 December 1913 – 28 December 2013)[1][2] was a Cuban operatic soprano.
Havana-born Esther Borja Lima was trained in solfége and music theory by Juan Elósegui, and in singing by Rubén Lepchutz. She graduated as a teacher in 1934, and began her career in 1935; that year she performed, with Ernesto Lecuona on piano, at the National Theatre (now the Gran Teatro de La Habana), and at the Auditorium Amadeo Roldán. The same year she sang the waltz Damisela encantadora in the operetta Lola Cruz by Lecuona.[3] Her voice was described as a "beautiful mezzo-soprano with clear diction and a good feel for melody".[4]
At the time Borja started her career, and for years after, Rita Montaner was the leading stage musical star in Cuba. However, Montaner (who was also a fine pianist) gradually shifted her career from operatic-style singing towards Afro-Cuban character roles and films, and then began some remarkable radio shows with biting humour and political satire. Borja, on the other hand, remained primarily a singer, and later took over some of the soprano parts that Montaner had previously dominated. [citation needed]
Borja made her first overseas tour to Argentina in 1936 with Lecuona, his sister Ernestina, and Bola de Nieve. The quartet made a film, Adiós, Buenos Aires, in 1937, and Esther stayed there until 1943. From her new base in the Argentine, Borja sang and performed zarzuelas by Lecuona and other composers, and toured Chile, Peru, Brazil and Uruguay. In 1943 she returned to Cuba to work in concerts organized by Eliseo Grenet, and left again to go to New York. There she appeared with Lecuona in the Steinway Hall until Sigmund Romberg put her under contract to appear with his orchestra at the Carnegie Hall. [citation needed]
She completed five tours of the USA with this band. Eventually [when?] she returned to Cuba, and continued her career in operettas, zarzuelas and on radio. Her last appearances in the lyric theatre were in Madrid and Barcelona in 1953. [citation needed]
For twenty years on Cuban television, from 1961, she fronted[5] the show Álbum de Cuba, and sang in venues throughout Cuba.[6][7] She died on 28 December 2013, aged 100.
^Given by Orovio (Orovio, Helio 1982. Diccionario de la música cubana. La Habana) as: 5 September 1913, Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba.
^Muere la cantane cubana Esther Borja
^Giro, Radamés 2007. Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba. La Habana. Vol 1, p. 155
^Contributor's transl. from Orovio, Helio 1981. Diccionario de la música cubana. La Habana, p. 57
^In the source, the word is condujo, from conducir, to drive or carry; figuratively, to lead. Probably she presented the show and sang in it at least, and had some organizing role.
^Giro, Radamés 2007. Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba, La Habana. Vol 1, p. 156
^Martínez Rodríguez, Raúl. 1990. Esther Borja, La Habana.
EstherBorja Lima (5 December 1913 – 28 December 2013) was a Cuban operatic soprano. Havana-born EstherBorja Lima was trained in solfége and music theory...
sons of the city were ethnomusicologist Helio Orovio and mezzo-soprano EstherBorja. In addition, Santiago de las Vegas has three of the most important sanatoriums...
astronomer. Jack S. Blanton, 86, American businessman and philanthropist. EstherBorja, 100, Cuban singer. Robert Boscawen, 90, British politician, MP for Wells...
II, American singer-songwriter and harmonica player (d. 1965) 1913 – EstherBorja, Cuban soprano and actress (d. 2013) 1914 – Helen Dettweiler, American...
lyric theatre include Caridad Suarez, María de los Angeles Santana, EstherBorja and Ignacio Villa, who had such a round, black face that Rita Montaner...
Orquesta Aragón Carlos Averhoff Guillermo Barreto Bola de Nieve Lino Borges EstherBorja Los Bucaneros Elena Burke Barbarito Díez Felipe Dulzaides y Los Armónicos...
Franz Lehár. Performs in the Fiesta de la Variedad with Bola de Nieve, EstherBorja, and others. 1936 January: Sings the part of Rosa, in the Spanish lyric...
lyric theatre include Caridad Suarez, María de los Angeles Santana, EstherBorja and Ignacio Villa, who had such a round, black face that Rita Montaner...
Silly Age) - Feature Film 2005 Frank Emilio, Amor y Piano - EPK 2005 EstherBorja: Rapsodia de Cuba - Documentary Film 2004 Tres Veces Dos - (Flash: One...
Canción Cubana for her song "Mi Guitarra Guajira", dedicated to singer EstherBorja (born 1913). In 1957 she collaborated in the revision of "40 Dances for...
Frank Emilio, Amor y Piano (Love and piano) Pavel Giroud Documentary EstherBorja: Rapsodia de Cuba (Rhapsody of Cuba) Pavel Giroud Documentary Espectros...
Guadalupe Borja Osorno (April 4, 1915 – July 19, 1974) was First Lady of Mexico from 1964 to 1970. She was the wife of Mexican president Gustavo Díaz...
features a message by historians Jorge Basadre Grohmann and José Jiménez Borja [es] in homage to the combatants of the Battles of Tacna (05-26-1880) and...
Gale Jun Gallardo Unknown Filipino retired film director Vice Ganda Jose Borja-Viceral 1976- Filipino comedian, actor and television host Robert Gant Robert...
from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021. Kang, Esther; Hardge, Falen (May 10, 2024). "Jane Lynch Teases Only Murders in the Building's...
Walker; Antonella De Luca; Antonella Maggioni; Belén Gutierrez; Björn Otto; Borja Blanco; Carlos Foxley; Danilele Strongone; David Gonzalez; Devesh Bharadwaj;...