Cuban Folk Singer Ruben Lester on Departing and Arriving
Osmel Almaguer
Ruben Lester. Photo: caimanbarbudo.cuHAVANA TIMES — Though not one of the most promoted artists, Ruben Lester (Santiago de Cuba, 1977) has broken into Cuba’s folk music world with an interesting repertoire. His lyrics combine feelings and objective observations. They recreate humanity’s relationship with its surroundings – with the countryside, the land and animals. His most recurrent motifs include separation and the phenomenon of emigration – not only as a background social issue but also as an experience that hurts individuals profoundly.
A mixture of tenderness and intensity, relying on images and phonetic complexity, Lester’s songs are capable of moving listeners while inviting them to reflect on different issues.
Ruben Lester has been a member of the Provincial Performance Arts Council since 1998. He has taken the stage in different venues, both in Cuba and abroad, including the highly prestigious Romerias de Mayo and Longina theater festivals. Abroad, he has taken part in such festivals as France’s TransMusicales, Spain’s Cuba-Compostela and Italy’s M&M.
He has shared the stage with such Cuban performers as Vanito, Telmary, Yusa, Vivanco, Torres and others.
