#zarzuela

2 articles

Colonial Havana in the 1830s, the setting of Cecilia Valdés. AI-generated illustration

Culture Feb 13, 2026 6 min read

Cecilia Valdés: Cuba's National Novel That Challenged an Era

The story of Cecilia Valdés, Cirilo Villaverde's masterpiece on race, love and colonialism in 19th century Cuba, and its legendary zarzuela adaptation.

Portrait of Ernesto Lecuona, Cuban composer and pianist. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Culture Feb 12, 2026 4 min read

Ernesto Lecuona: The Cuban Gershwin Who Conquered the World

Life and legacy of Ernesto Lecuona, Cuba's most prolific composer with over 600 works that defined Latin music worldwide.