PARES | Spanish Archives

Identification

Type:

Person

Preferred form:

Cubiles, José (1894-1971)Other forms

Fechas de existencia:

Cádiz (España) 1894-05-15 - Madrid (España) 1971-04-04

History:

Spanish pianist, conductor and teacher.

Born on 15 May 1894 in Cádiz, and passed away on 4 April 1971 in Madrid. Son of José Cubiles and Eduarda Ramos, José studied at the Academia Filarmónica de Santa Cecilia in Cádiz and the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid, with Pilar Fernández de la Mora. In 1909 he won first prize from the Círculo de Bellas Artes, taking first place in piano and harmony at the conservatory as well. From 1912 to 1914 he studied with Louis Diémer in Paris, the city where he gave his first concerts. He returned to Spain in 1914, and earned a place as a piano teacher at Madrid's conservatory, where he was later promoted to professor and director.

In 1916, he premiered "Noches en los jardines de España" at the Teatro Real with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid, at the request of his good friend Manuel de Falla. Cubiles married Pilar Malvis in 1927, with whom he had a son. Starting in 1935, he studied and performed the work of Ludwig van Beethoven across Europe. After the Spanish Civil War, he served on the board of directors of the Comisaría General de la Música, with Joaquín Turina and Nemesio Otaño. He was inducted into the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in 1942. In 1950 he married the harpist Rosa Coll. In 1957 he became a corresponding member of the Academia Nacional de Artes y Letras de la Habana and composed the processional march "Lágrimas". Cubiles was named deputy director of the Conservatorio de Madrid in 1962. As a performer, he gave wonderful renditions of the works of Frédéric Chopin, Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados, Falla and Turina, and he conducted the Orquesta Bética de Cámara on several occasions. He was distinguished with the Grand Cross of Alfonso X the Wise, the Gold Medal of Labour, the Silver Medal of Madrid City Council, and the titles of Knight of the French Legion of Honour and Favourite Son of Cádiz, among others.