What is Ernesto Lecuona?
[[File:LecuonaE.jpg|thumb|right|Ernesto Lecuona<br />circa 1935]] [[File:Lecuona white ink.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ernesto Lecuona in 1923]] '''Ernesto Lecuona y Casado''' (August 6, 1895 – November 29, 1963) was a [[Cuba]]n [[composer]] and [[pianist]] of worldwide fame. He composed over six hundred pieces, mostly in the Cuban vein, and was a pianist of exceptional skill.<ref>Orovio, Helio (2004). ''Cuban music from A to Z''. Revised by Sue Steward. {{ISBN|0-8223-3186-1}} A biographical dictionary of Cuban music, artists, composers, groups and terms. Duke University, Durham NC; Tumi, Bath.</ref><ref>Díaz Ayala, Cristóbal (1981). ''Música cubana del Areyto a la Nueva Trova''. 2nd rev ed, San Juan P.R.: Cubanacan, p. 135 et seq.</ref> As a [[child prodigy]], he composed his first song at the age of 11.<ref>Dyde, Brian 1992. ''Caribbean companion: the A-Z reference''. London: Macmillan, p. 98.</ref> Lecuona graduated from the [[National Conservatory of Havana]] with a Gold Medal for interpretation when he was sixteen. He performed in [[New York]] in 1916. == Composer == He was a prolific composer of songs and music for stage and film. His works in [[Afro-Cuban]] and Cuban rhythms are still very famous. They include ''[[Siboney (song)|Siboney]]'' (''Canto Siboney''), ''Comparsa'', ''[[Malagueña (song)|Malagueña]]'' and ''[[The Breeze And I]]'' (''Andalucía''). In 1942, his great hit, ''Always in my heart'' (''Siempre en mi Corazon'') was nominated for an [[Oscar]] for Best Song. Lecuona wrote music for stage and screen. His own musical stage show, ''María la O'', premiered in Havana on March 1, 1930.<ref name=Orovoi>Orovio, Helio 1981. ''Diccionario de la música cubana: biográfico y técnico''. La Habana, Letras Cubanas, 227/8.</ref> Lecuona gave concerts all through his adult life, in Europe and the Americas. They often featured his own compositions. He first travelled to [[Spain]] in 1924, and his successful piano recitals in 1928 at Paris coincided with a rise in interest in Cuban music. Lecuona gave help and t