A typically Spanish musical genre, the zarzuela is a Spanish-language
opera with spoken dialogues and filled with pleasant-sounding, often
folkloric tunes cast in arias, duets, four-part choruses and dances. While
zarzuelas never really made it into the repertoires of theaters outside the
Spanish-speaking countries, the many passionate, fiery, or lyrical vocal
pieces have continued to thrive in concerts and recitals all over the
world. One of the most renowned and ardent supporters of zarzuela melodies
is Plácido Domingo, who is featured here in a concert given at the 2007
Salzburg Festival.
Belying his 66 years, the world-famous tenor sings these rousing, seductive
melodies with the beguiling sweetness of a much younger man. Delicately
painted character studies enhanced with occasional harmonic slides, sighing
motifs and castanet laughter - Domingo transports the enraptured listener
to the calles and plazas of Madrid and Seville. His phrasing is "subtly
shaded, with the wisdom of an older man; the voice is always perfectly
focused and led both dazzlingly and intelligently... The audience cheers."
(F.A.Z.). Domingo is accompanied by the Mozarteum Orchestra under Jesús
López Cobos and, above all, by his partner for the evening, soprano Ana
María Martínez, "a beautiful woman with a fascinating voice, full of
velvety mezzoish half-tints in the middle and bottom ranges, with a
gleaming top." (London Times) The young, internationally celebrated soprano
made her Salzburg debut as Fiordiligi in Mozart's "Così fan tutte" in 2006
(part of Unitel's Mozart 22 collection). Martínez and Domingo serve up an
evening of infectious good spirits and exquisite vocal treats. "The dazzle
of genuine stars shone brightly over Salzburg!" (Die Welt)
Program: Federico Chueca (1846-1908): Vorspiel zu "El Bateo" //
Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982): "Amor, vida de mi vida" from
"Maravilla" (Domingo) //
Pablo Luna Carné (1879-1942): "De España vengo" from "El niño judío"
(Martínez) //
Federico Moreno Torroba: "Tienes razon, amigo" from "La Chulapona"
(Domingo) //
Federico Moreno Torroba: "La Petenera" from "La marchenera" //
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946): "Danza ritual del fuego" from "El amor brujo"
//
Federico Moreno Torroba: "¡Cállate, corazón! - ¡Duérmete y calla!" from
"Luisa Fernanda" (Martínez, Domingo) //
José Serrano (1873-1941): "¿Qué te importa que no venga?" from "Los
Claveles" (Martínez) //
Reveriano Soutullo Otero (1884-1932): "Quiero desterrar" from "La del soto
del parral" (Domingo) //
Gerónimo Giménez y Bellido (1854-1923): Interludio from "La boda de Luis
Alonso, o La noche del encierro" //
Manuel Penella (1880-1939): "Todas las mañanitas" from "Don Gil de Alcalá"
(Martínez, Domingo) //
Pablo Sorozábal (1897-1988): "En un país de fábula" from "La tabernera del
puerto" (Martínez) //
Federico Moreno Torroba: "Luché la fe por el triunfo" from "Luisa Fernanda"
(Domingo) //
Manuel de Falla: "Jota" from "El sombrero de tres picos" //
Ruperto Chapí (1851-1909): "Carceleras" from "Las hijas del Zebedeo"
(Martínez) //
José Serrano: "Junto al puente de la peña" from "La canción de Olvido"
(Domingo) //
Federico Moreno Torroba: "En mi tierra extremeña" from "Luisa Fernanda"
(Martínez, Domingo) //
Encores:
Pablo Sorozábal: "No puede ser" (Domingo)//
Ernesto Lecuona (1895-1963): "María la O" (Martínez)//
Manuel Penella: "Me llamabas, Rafaeliyo" from "El gato montés" (Martínez, Domingo) //
This program is also released as Blu-ray Disc which is available in selected stores worldwide and through Amazon or JPC.