Steemians, today I share a publication in Tribute to the "Golden Voice of Venezuela", Master Carlos Almenar Otero, who died, at 92, on August 7, 2018
Master Carlos José Almenar Otero
He was born in Caracas on March 21, 1926. He is the second of five children, within what at the time was a modest family.
He began studying law, a career he left to devote himself to music. His beginnings as a singer were on the Radio and in some Theaters. This is how artists began in their time. He participated in the musical scene "The Caravan Camel" with Alfredo Sadel.
In 1951 Metro Goldwyn Mayer promoted the Singing Contest "El Gran Caruso", a contest that promoted the film of the same name. Carlos Almenar Otero participated in Venezuela and won the Contest. He went to the final in Rio de Janeiro and received an Honorable Mention. That same year he traveled to Italy to study at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory and received private lessons from Tenor Nino Piccaluga.
After his debut at the Nuovo Theater and Lyric Theater, in 1956, he was selected by Metro Goldwyn Mayer to promote, in Europe, the film "El Gran Caruso", which allowed him to share the stage in two concerts with the Tenor Mario Lanza, in 1957.
Although Carlos Almenar Otero lived 18 years in Germany and 5 years in Italy he was always linked to Venezuelan Popular Music.
Metro Goldwyn Meyer, again, sponsors and debuts in Germany, in 1958, as part of the Berlin Film Festival. In Frankfurt and Hamburg he made extraordinary performances in German television media with Mario Lanza where he gained great popularity.
He recorded his first album in German Isola Bella-So eine Nacht Unter Palmen, of which he sold 650.000 copies. He also made successful tours of Russia, Japan and the United States, among other countries that gave him the opportunity due to his great popularity. Carlos Almenar Otero came to record 54 albums in German.
In his outstanding and extensive artistic life Carlos Almenar Otero signed with the label Deutsche Grammophon. He also recorded with the Polydor Records, the hits "Cara Mia", "Talk to me about Mariú loves", "Do not cry for me", "Bella María" and "Una Furtiva Lágrima". He acted in the vast majority of European countries. He also did it in Japan and the United States. He never forgot to sing the "Alma Llanera" at the end of each of his concerts.
The Japan Times newspaper wrote in 1968
Undoubtedly, Carlos Almenar has one of the most beautiful and best school voices that have visited Japan.
Master Almenar Otero decides to return to Venezuela in 1975
At that time he said
I made the decision motivated to the new age that the country is living; now there is a greater appreciation for the Venezuelan artist.
In our country he worked in Radio and Television. Initially he worked in Venezuelan Television, in the Program The Venezuelan Song. The purpose of this program was to showcase new and consecrated artists, as well as composers.
He participated for many years in a Talent Program, as President of the Jury. The program was named, How much is the show worth? In this Program, weekly, dictated chair with each of the comments made in relation to the interpretations of the different applicants who participated every week in that television space.
In Radio he worked in the program El Bel Canto Ilustrado, in National Radio, where he did an excellent job of disseminating classical music and opera.
Throughout his life Carlos Almenar Otero recorded 54 albums in German, 19 albums in Spanish, one album in Japanese, one in Italian and one in English. He was also composer of songs and hymns.
According to Primicia "The Golden Voice of Venezuela" it was also named "Living Cultural Heritage of the Bolivarian National Armed Force", in 2016, in the framework of the third anniversary of the Vice Ministry of Education for Defense.
Peace and Eternal Rest to his Soul
Surely Master Almenar Otero ... The Golden Voice of Venezuela ... is singing with the Angels and it will be they who will continue accompanying his song day by day ... on earth he left his legacy, he left his indelible footprint.
I finish this publication with a phrase from Master Almenar Otero, when in 1989, he expressed his feelings in relation to the dissemination and appreciation of Venezuelan music, he expressed that not only had to be an educational duty but patriotic.
"Without Venezuelan music, we lose the main identification card that people use in front the world Unfortunately, we have stations that say they are young because they only broadcast foreign music”
References
1.- The Universal. (august, 2018), [online]. Recovered on august 9, 2018, from [R1].
2.- Primicia. (august, 2018), [online]. Recovered on august 9, 2018, from [R2].
3.- The National. (august, 2018), [online]. Recovered on august 9, 2018, from [R3].
Source of the images that were used to make the gif
Until a next publication dear fellow readers
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This is a translation of my publication La Voz de Oro de Venezuela … Maestro Carlos Almenar Otero … se fue a cantar con los Ángeles in Spanish
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://marlenyaragua.rockdio.org/2018/08/22/the-golden-voice-of-venezuela-master-carlos-almenar-otero-went-to-sing-with-the-angels/