I've worked 6 years in Spanish zarzuela, and I absolutely love it.

My wife (a Spaniard) is also a singer, her mother is a voice
professor in the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Alicante.
They've both sung in numerous zarzuelas. I've sung in some (Rafael
in "La Dolorosa," Gustavo en "Los Gavilanes," Carlos in "La
Viejecita"--a surpisingly difficult role), and Beltrán in "La
Tempestad) and directed many as well (either as conductor or
pianist). I don't know what it is -- maybe it's because I love
Spain itself so much. But there's an earthly feel to zarzuela music
that opera normally does not have. It's very...well...Spanish.

From Cataluña y País Vasco to Extremadura to Levante to Andalucía,
it's an aesthetic, musical, emotional, social, physical journey
through the Iberian Peninsula that loses no dignity in its
simplicity or depth in its frivolity. My favorites are the saetas
del género chico. But I also love those grand works by Chapí
like "La Tempestad" or the zarzuela/opera "Marina."

As Beltrán, I had the priviledge of being part of the first
performance of "La Tempestad" en Elche, Alicante in 50 years. A
thrilling experience! One of the funniest ones that I have
conducted is "El Amigo Melquiades." I would sometimes lose my
concentration during the dialog; it is SO funny, as is "El Niño
Judío." I directed two zarzuela groups. In this particular group,
we had an excellent acting cast. Most were not trained singers, but
they did a good job.

Anybody else out there with similar experiences? I'd love to chat.


¡Viva la Zarzuela! (and I don't mean the food)