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| LA DOLORES Musical mistakes and a lacklustre staging frustrate an opera's return home (and Miccone) (Español) (English) |
'AN IMPECCABLE STAGING' Our roving reporter Teddy Clyron approves Madrid's new production of 'Pan y toros' at Teatro de la Zarzuela (Español) (English) |
| LA CELESTINA Essential art or megalomaniac snobbery? Miccone explores Pedrell's four-act opera at Teatro de la Zarzuela (Español) (English) |
SMALL BUT PERFECTLY-FORMED Christopher Webber has a good time in the circus-ring ... reporting on the London premiere of 'Black, el payaso' at the Cervantes Theatre (English) |
| GAME OVER FOR THE MAGIC OPAL ... Miccone visits Teatro de la Zarzuela to see Albéniz's English comic opera, and sees red (Español) (English) |
DOING TEATRO REAL'S HOMEWORK ... Miccone questions whether mounting Bretón's opera Tabaré at Teatro de la Zarzuela does anyone any good (Español) (English) |
| A LETTER FROM MADRID Miccone flies in from Venice to see Los gavilanes at Teatro de la Zarzuela... (Español) (English) |
'THE GREAT ENCHANTMENT: NATIONAL OPERA' Ruperto Chapí's 'mediterranean' opera revived in concert at Teatro de la Zarzuela. Miccone gives it a hearing... (Español) (English) |
| HOME AT LAST... Pablo Luna's gender-bending 1923 operetta Benamor, finally revived at Teatro de la Zarzuela. Christopher Webber watches... (English) |
DON FERNANDO EL EMPLAZADO 'Ópera española' by Zubiaurre, in Italian at the Teatro Real. Reviewed by Víctor Sánchez Sánchez (Español) |
| SONYA YONCHEVA Víctor Sánchez Sánchez enjoys a special night at Teatro de la Zarzuela (Español) (English) |
PERCHANCE TO DREAM... Pablo Luna's swansong Las Calatravas, revived in concert at Teatro de la Zarzuela. Antonio Díaz-Casanova reports... (Español) (English) |
| MARIANELA Jaime Pahissa's 1923 opera after Galdós, in concert at Teatro de la Zarzuela.Víctor Sánchez Sánchez hails a masterpiece (Español) (English) |
OFFENBACH, COMPOSER OF ZARZUELAS A revealing concert series from Madrid's Juan March Foundation charts Offenbach's Spanish adaptations. Ignacio Jassa Haro reports (Español) (English) |
| LA TEMPRANICA Teatro de la Zarzuela bravely battles Covid, though the show's a casualty case. Christopher Webber reports. (English) |
CECILIA VALDÉS At last! Zarzuela cubana reaches Teatro de la Zarzuela. Christopher Webber reports on the YouTube streaming (English) |
| VIVES VIVISECTED There's been crowd trouble at Teatro de la Zarzuela's new Doña Francisquita. Christopher Webber tells us why (English) |
LA MANTA ZAMORANA Caballero's beautiful 1902 zarzuela sparkily revived in Zamora. Anna Tonna reports... (English) |
| PRIMA DONNA EN POINTE Some surprising strengths rescue the Dream ...Gaztambide comes through at Teatro de la Zarzuela (English) |
BRILLIANT BARBIERI BARBERILLO Christopher Webber enjoys an exhilarating ride, with the new production at Teatro de la Zarzuela (English) |
| KATIUSKA The October 4 2018 live streaming of Teatro de la Zarzuela's new season first night proves a major event (English) |
GRAND GIMÉNEZ A magnificent score revived. Antonio Díaz-Casanova reports from Teatro de la Zarzuela. (Español) |
| ON THE RIGHT ROAD Teatro de la Zarzuela improves its revue form: Antonio Díaz-Casanova gives the thumbs up to Alonso's 24 horas mintiendo (Español) (English) |
FACEBOOK LIVE Christopher Webber watches the live streaming of 24 horas mintiendo direct from Teatro de la Zarzuela (English) |
| BIANCO FIRES ANOTHER BLANK Carlos Figueroa spends the afternoon at Teatro de la Zarzuela, enduring Enrique Viana's “Lyric nonsence in one act” (Español) (English) |
MAGNIFICENT MARUXA Christopher Webber reviews Paco Azorín's thrilling new production at Teatro de la Zarzuela (English) |
| LA MALQUERIDA Penella's last zarzuela in a rare revival at Madrid's Teatros del Canal. Antonio Díaz-Casanova reports (Español) (English) |
CHÂTEAU MARGAUX / LA VIEJECITA Prof. Víctor Sánchez reflects on the programming of género chico zarzuela (Español) (English) |
| GOLDEN AMADEO The new production of Vives's grandest zarzuela 'La villana' is an important event for Teatro de la Zarzuela, Mario Lerena reports... (Español) (English) |
MARÍA RODRIGO The impossibly rare opera 'Bequeriana', exhumed by José Luis Temes. Enrique Mejías García reviews an overdue revival (Español) (English) |
|
FLYING HIGH WITH LOW PASSIONS |
STAGE PREMIERE OF JUAN
JOSÉ Sorozábal's long wait is over, his late opera finally premiered at Teatro de la Zarzuela. Enrique Mejías García reviews (Español) (English) |
| GALANTEOS EN VENECIA Teatro de la Zarzuela, October 2015. Antonio Díaz-Casanova reviews (Español) |
LA CELIA |
| LUISA FERNANDA Madrid, Festival Veranos de la Villa 2015 - Ópera Cómica de Madrid's outdoor take on a classic, Carlos Figueroa reviews (Español) (English) |
EL TEATRO DE ARTE Jornadas de Zarzuela 2015 - Fundación Jacinto e Inocencio Guerrero. Miguel Ángel Ríos Muñoz reports from Teatro Auditorio de Cuenca (Español) |
| USANDIZAGA 'ÍNFIMO' Mario Lerena attends the world premiere of a previously overlooked 'ínfimo' zarzuela by the Basque genius (Español) (English) |
BOCCHERINI? THIS GUY'S GOT CLASS Intinerant guitarist (and general loafer-about-town) Wamba, on 'Clementina' at Teatro de la Zarzuela (English) |
|
EL CASERÍO |
EL TERRIBLE PÉREZ Paco Mir's Cuenca production of Torregrosa and Valverde Jr.'s infamous masterpiece (English) |
| FLAME IN THE BELL JAR José María Usandizaga's posthumous opera 'La llama' in Bilbao - an in-depth article by Mario Lerena (Español) (English) |
LA GRAN DUQUESA DE
GEROLSTEIN Teatro de la Zarzuela (Madrid), a review by La linda tapada (Español) |
| GERSHWIN & ALONSO
Double bill: Lady, Be Good! (Gershwin) and Luna de miel en El Cairo (Alonso). La linda tapada reviews (Español) |
LOS
DIAMANTES DE LA CORONA Teatro de la Zarzuela revival (Español) |
| LA
FLOR DEL AGUA Auditorio Nacional, Madrid. ORCAM and Víctor Pablo Pérez perform the zarzuela by Conrado del Campo and Víctor Said Armesto (Español) |
DOÑA FRANCISQUITA
Théâtre du Capitole-December 2014. Pierre-René Serna reviews (Español) |
| CARMEN: THE
MYTH REAPPROPRIATED Ana Zamora reinvents Bizet's opéra-comique as a 19th c. feminist zarzuela, with verse dialogue. Ignacio Jassa describes the experience... (Español) |
MANNA FROM
HEAVEN Zarzuela at Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela! Christopher Webber reviews Ruth Iniesta's song recital (English) |
| ZARZUELA:
PASSION, ART, FIRE Zarzuela returns to New York. Anna Tonna reviews from the Centro Español de Queens (English) |
FOUNDERS'
TRILOGY Catalina, El dominó azul and El diablo en el poder. Teatro de la Zarzuela. Reviewed by Miccone (Español) (English) |
| A NIGHT AT
THE OPÉRA COMIQUE Enrique Mejías García's experience at Lecoq's "Alí Babá" in Paris gives him pause for thought: what makes a zarzuela? (Español) (English) |
SPRING OF
ZARZUELA Antonio Díaz-Casanova reviews 3 Madrid's zarzuela shows (Español) |
| SOROZÁBAL &
LEONCAVALLO Black, el payaso / Pagliacci. Teatro de la Zarzuela (April 2014). La linda tapada reviews (Español) |
LA
CORTE DE FARAÓN Teatros del Canal, Madrid (May 2014). Ignacio Jassa Haro reviews (Español) |
| CURRO VARGAS Teatro de la Zarzuela - February & March 2014. Antonio Díaz-Casanova reviews (Español) |
VIVA
MADRID Teatros del Canal, March 2014. A review by Antonio Díaz-Casanova (Español) |
| LA DEL MANOJO
DE ROSAS Teatro de la Zarzuela - December 18th 2013. A review by Antonio Díaz-Casanova (Español) |
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS 3 Madrid venues: Teatro de la Zarzuela, Fernán Gómez-Centro Cultural de la Villa & Caja de Música-CentroCentro (Español) |
| FALLA/BRETÓN DOUBLE
BILL ... coupling "Los amores de la Inéz" with "La verbena de la Paloma" does Falla no favours. Miccone reports (Español) |
LA TEMPRANICA IN
CONCERT ... for Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos's 80th birthday, at Teatro de la Zarzuela. Ignacio Jassa Haro reviews (Español) |
| ENTRE
BILBAO Y YOUTUBE Teatro Arriaga Bilbao's "Entre Sevilla y Triana" comes to YouTube... Christopher Webber on another Sorozabalian triumph |
AN
ARCADIA OF POETRY, BEAUTY AND SENSUALITY "Viento es la dicha de Amor" - Teatro de la Zarzuela - Miccone review (Español) |
| MORE
SERRANO, PLEASE! With his review of the new double bill of "La reina mora" and "Alma de Dios", our ineluctable reviewer Miccone issues an urgent S.O.S. (Español) (English) |
MARINA (Opera
version) Teatro de la Zarzuela, March-April 2013 (Español) |
| ¡AY
AMOR! A new era at Teatro de la Zarzuela ... and a new review by Miccone (English) (Español) |
EL
JURAMENTO 2000 Emilio Sagi's successful production for Teatro de la Zarzuela is revived. A review by Ignacio Jassa Haro (Español) |
| LA
CHULAPONA So, thirty years after the famous production's premiere, how does this 2012 revival stack up? Review by Ignacio Jassa Haro (Español) |
LYRIC SEASON
AT TEATROS DE CANAL "Amadeu", "Candide" - and a baffling "Dúo de La africana". Ignacio Jassa Haro reports... (Español) |
| NANCY FABIOLA
HERRERA - GITANAS EN CONCIERTO Fiver pairs of earrings, five costumes - and superb vocal powers to match, Miccone on the latest Teatro de la Zarzuela concert (Español) |
EL
RELÁMPAGO Zarzuela by Barbieri and Camprodón - Teatro de la Zarzuela concert version. A review by Ignacio Jassa Haro (Español) |
| XIMENA
AGURTO The winner of the 2011 Fundación Guerrero International Singing Competition impresses Christopher Webber in her London debut (Español) (English) |
EL GATO
MONTÉS A disillusioned Miccone questions the value of reviving such a "musical cadaver" at Teatro de la Zarzuela (Español) |
| ZARZUELA
CONCERTS 2011/12 Teatro de la Zarzuela has hosted four concerts over the last few months, culminating in a superb musical Christmas offering... (Español) |
LOS
SOBRINOS DEL CAPITÁN GRANT Yet another revival, and yet another warm welcome, for Teatro de la Zarzuela's much-loved Christmas standby. Ignacio Jassa Haro reports... (Español) |
| DOUBLE
DELIGHT Unlikely pairing of naughty revue and Andalusian tragedy at Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela is a huge hit with Christopher Webber (Español) (English) |
PURE
FILTH Christopher Webber relishes a traditional take on "La corte de Faraón" at Madrid's Teatro Compac Gran Vía |
| LAS DE
CAÍN Teatro Español continues its exploration of neglected Sorozábal zarzuelas with a nostalgic summer spectacular (Español) |
LA
MARSELLESA Ópera Cómica de Madrid revive Caballero's classic at Teatro Cervantes, Málaga. Miccone reports... (Español) |
| NO, IT
CAN'T BE! ANOTHER LUISA FERNANDA The new Teatro de la Zarzuela production, sweetly sung but dubiously directed. Miccone reports (Español) |
COMMEMORATION AT CANAL "La revoltosa" opens Carlos Fernández Shaw Year, at Teatros del Canal. Miccone opens up the key points (Español) |
| "ZARZUELA
BRITÁNICA A LA CATALANA" An attractive staging of "Ruddigore" (Gilbert & Sullivan) highlights the enviable healthy state of Catalan's music theatre, says Ignacio Jassa Haro (Español) |
GLORIOUS
DOUBLE Christopher Webber revels in the Teatro de la Zarzuela's new production of rare short zarzuelas by Gaztambide and Barbieri (Español) (English) |
| AMADEU Not Mozart, but Vives in Albert Boadella's smash-hit polemic musical at Teatros del Canal. Christopher Webber witnesses a moving epic... |
SINGABLE
SPANISH GOLD Songs of the Iberian Peninsula on the New York Festival of Song at Merkin Hall, Manhattan. Richard Traubner reports |
| LA DEL
SOTO DEL PARRAL Richard Traubner on the Teatro de la Zarzuela's new production of a verismo classic (Español) (English) |
A COOL CAT IN
NEW YORK Distinguished American critic Richard Traubner enjoys Montsalvatge's "El gato con botas" at the New Victory Theatre... (Español) (English) |
| LIFE IN
THE CORPSE Christopher Webber's retrospective and Enrique Mejías' review on Teatro de la Zarzuela's revelatory revival of "Los diamantes de la corona" (Español) (English) |
BACK TO
THE FUTURE Barbieri's "Los diamantes de la corona" glitter again in Madrid in the new Teatro de la Zarzuela production(Español) (English) |
| A TRULY
MAGIC OPAL Madrid revives in oncert one of Albéniz's major stage works, premiered in 1893 London (Español) (English) |
CLEMENTINA: A REAL
ZARZUELA? Boccherini and de la Cruz's refined pseudo-opera at the Teatro Español. Ignacio Jassa Haro has doubts. (Español) (English) |
| COMIC-BOOK
OPERA Luis Olmos's production of La tabernera del Puerto returns stronger than ever (Español)(English) |
REVIEW
ROUND-UP Our Spanish reviewers have been working overtime! Here's an English review digest of important new productions in Oviedo, Barcelona and of course Madrid |
| JUAN
JOSÉ Pablo Sorozábal's opera finally goes public. Christopher Webber finds it a pearl of great price (Español) (English) |
LA GRAN
VÍA… ESQUINA A CHUECA Paco Mir's radical rewrite brings Chueca into the 21st Century. Enrique Mejías García reports... (Español) (English) |
| EL
AMA Jacinto Guerrero's forgotten zarzuela revived in Barcelona. José María Busqué Doménech reports. (Español) (English) |
A CHICKEN
HOME TO ROOST Ópera Cómica de Madrid's latest staging, another Caballero rarity restored (Español) (English) |
| 2008
CONCERT SERIES A diary by Ignacio Jassa Haro (Español) (English) |
NOT JUST THE
DOG WHICH NEEDS DOCTORING? Luis Olmos's "El rey que rabió" revival at Teatro de la Zarzuela has Enrique Mejías García foaming at the mouth (Español) (English) |
| LA
CELESTINA Enrique Mejías García on a long-delayed operatic premiere (Español) (English) |
MÚSICA
CLÁSICA Teatro de la Zarzuela hits the mark with its first Show for Kids. Ignacio Jassa Haro reports (Español) (English) |
| KATIUSKA Emilio Sagi's radical reframing of Sorozábal's masterpiece puts the composer at the centre of the picture. Christopher Webber reports from Bilbao's Teatro Arriaga (Español) (English) |
AN
AFFAIR OF THE HEART Emilio Sagi's love for LA GENERALA blooms again at Teatro de la Zarzuela. Christopher Webber reviews (Español) (English) |
| BARBIERI
AND OUDRID IN THE PARK ... finishing the Sabatini summer season. Enrique Mejías García and Christopher Webber were there (Español) (English) |
LIGHTNING
STRIKES TWICE Christopher Webber on Sheffield University's latest Spanish baroque triumph, Calderón and Hidalgo's CELOS AUN DEL AIRE MATAN (Español) (English) |
| LAS BRIBONAS "...you wouldn't be able to stage this show in London or New York today without getting your theatre closed down, or torched" Infamous pleasures in Madrid (Español) (English) |
ZARZUELA
BALADA Hangman, Hangman! and its sequel, cartoon ballad-operas by Catalan-American Leonardo Balada, reviewed on stage in Madrid, and on Naxos CD (Español) (English) |
| EL BARBERO DE SEVILLA /
BOHEMIOS A neatly devised "operatic" bill at Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela. Christopher Webber reports (Español) (English) |
LUISA FERNANDA Luisa comes home to Madrid with Domingo, Montiel and Bros in a stellar vocal evening. Review by Christopher Webber |
| SUNDAY IN THE PARK... with Enrique García Asensio and the Banda Sinfónica, a Madrid tradition maintained. Christopher Webber takes the air |
El
BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIÉS Christopher Webber on Calixto Bieito's latest tangle with the traditionalists (Español) (English) |
| [ many more stage reviews in ARCHIVE ] |
| CD, Streaming and DVD reviews |
| CD MAGAZINE New and reissued recordings from Spain, Europe and America - Zarzuela, Spanish and Hispanic American Opera and composers |
|
| A TRIP TO GRANADA Anna Tonna and Mac McClure stream a fascinating recital, orbiting the poetry of María Lejárraga. On Spotify and iTunes (English) |
|
| NEBRA'S LUCRECIA Los Elementos (on Glossa) make a thrilling case for the fourth and last of José de Nebra's surviving zarzuelas to reach CD (English) |
A BASQUE CHRISTMAS The seasonal charm of Sancho Inchausi's childrens' opera is enjoyed by Christopher Webber (English) |
| SONGS FOR A QUEEN Christopher Webber welcomes a remarkable 2-CD set of Arrieta's complete art songs, from Sofía Esparza and Rinaldo Zhok (English) |
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Suppé's music for the Viennese adaptation of Jules Verne's blockbuster contrasts with zarzuela's contemporary take on the novelist (English) |
| CORONIS Durón's baroque zarzuela, the big recent hit at Paris's Opéra-Comique, reviewed on CD by Christopher Webber (English) |
TWO CENTURIES OF GALICIAN SONG ... with some Galician zarzuela included. Gabriel Alonso and Aurelio Viribay's recital reviewed by Christopher Webber (English) |
| A LITTLE ACORN Charles Colin's 1909 'Lyric Pastoral' Maitena lies at the roots of Basque Opera. Christopher Webber reviews the Ibs CD set (English) |
AY AMOR Continuo Classics's baroque compilation is worth hearing for de Nebra's music and Eleonora Deveze's soprano (English) |
| LUNA CLARA The complete songs of Jesús García Leoz, newly recorded by soprano Mar Morán and pianist Aurelio Viribay (English) |
FALSTAFF AT TEATRO REAL It may not be zarzuela, but Laurent Pelly's Teatro Real show on BelAir Blu-ray is a feast. Christopher Webber reviews (English) |
| RUTAS An exciting CD debut from one of Spain's younger generation of tenors, Pablo García-López, with Aurelio Viribay (English) |
GLOSSA TO THE RESCUE Another superb rediscovery of a zarzuela by José de Nebra, from Alberto Miguélez Rouco and Los Elementos (English) |
| LE DOCTEUR MIRACLE The influence of French operetta on zarzuela is great. Edward Halsted looks at two charming examples (English) |
FRIENDS OF DOROTHY Andrew Lamb on a labour of love - the first recording of Alfred Cellier's light opera Dorothy, conducted by Richard Bonynge on Naxos. (English) |
| BECQUERIANA Christopher Webber reviews an attractive CD devoted to María Rodrigo, centred on her surviving one-act opera. (English) |
EL SOBRE VERDE Fundación Guerrero's series of eye-opening DVDs continues with a scintillating hit revue from 1927 (English) |
| VICTORIAN HITS Christopher Webber looks at a new CD of rare Victorian comedy opera, pitting 1890's London against Madrid (English) |
ENSAMBLE DE
MADRID "Zarzuela en formato de cámara" Vols 4 to 7. Enrique Mejías reviews (Español) |
| GORGEOUS
GURIDI Naxos continue their love affair with the Basque composer's music, with this glorious new CD of the complete string quartets |
FIRST RECORDING OF
'CÁDIZ' (DG) We've waited over 125 years for a studio recording of Chueca and Valverde's patriotic 1886 epic. How do DG fare? |
| THE SONGS OF JULIO
GÓMEZ A neglected composer is well-served by mezzo Anna Tonna, in Verso's representative new CD |
MELANCOLÍA Patricia Petibon's Spanish Album from DG certainly succeeds in evoking it for Christopher Webber |
| VIVA MADRID DG's CD gala starring Plácido Domingo has Ian Brown leaping for the fast-forward button |
AMOR AUMENTA EL
VALOR Los Músicos de Su Alteza interpret José de Nebra's opera most satisfyingly (Gerardo Fernández San Emeterio) (Español) (English) |
| HABANERA Latvian superstar mezzo Elīna Garanča: "I love Spanish zarzuela". Does it love her? Christopher Webber's thoughts... |
A WINNING
WITCH Deutsche Grammophon's latest entry in their zarzuela CD series features José Bros in fine fettle (Español) (English) |
| DURÓN
DERAILED Gerardo Fernández San Emeterio gives a guarded welcome to the CD premiere of "Salir el Amor del mundo" (Español) (English) |
ARGENTA'S FIRST
VERBENA Naxos offer downloads of the legendary Maestro's rarely-heard 1952 first take on Bretón's classic |
| ALL FUR COAT AND
NO KNICKERS Christopher Webber is stunned by Emilio Sagi's Valencia trainwreck of a Chapí classic, more "Rey Ubú" than "Rey que rabió" |
CLEMENTINA It's been a long wait for a CD set in Spanish, but Heras-Casado and his Aranjuez forces do Boccherini's famous zarzuela proud |
| A WARNING TO
TOPERS Novoson's "Château Margaux" CD is badly corked - what's left of it. Ian Brown explains... |
2010 CD
ROUNDUP Argenta remastered, a comic opera by Falla (yes!), and some superb tonadilla from Glossa are pick of the crop |
| MOMPOU
BALLETS Catalunya's finest 20th composer for piano was Frederic Mompou. How many of his admirers know he also wrote major ballet scores? Another classic Naxos release from Jordi Masó |
ESPAÑA: A CHORAL POSTCARD FROM
SPAIN Coro Cervantes's new release for Signum Classics offers much more than the well-beaten tourist track. |
| THREE SOPRANOS AND
LA ZARZUELA Another patchy gala from the Teatro Real. Ian Brown decides who passes their auditions... |
MORE NOVOSON
REISSUES including many zarzuela recordings never before heard on CD. Ian Brown reports... |
| JUAN JOSÉ ON
CD Pablo Sorozábal's late opera in Musikene's new box set. Christopher Webber reviews this splendidly gritty "Wozzeck Madrileño" (Español) (English) |
IL BURBERO DI BUON
CUORE A brilliant libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, with music to match by ... well, not Soler's. DVD review of a Teatro Real rarity. |
| BALADA'S COLUMBUS
OPERAS Dignified diptych from a celebrated Catalan-American, with Caballe and Carreras at the helm. Christopher Webber reviews... |
KATIUSKA ON
DVD Sorozábal's earliest zarzuela given the Sagi treatment ... a sumptuous musical and visual feast from Bilbao's Teatro Arriaga (Español) (English) |
| CLASSIC
CHAPÍ Delightful picture book / cd souvenir of Teatro de la Zarzuela's "Música clásica" from Fundación Caja Madrid (Español) (English) |
CHUECA ON
NOVOSON Ian Brown is only damply enthusiastic about this reissue from the Alhambra classic zarzuela series, from Novoson (Español) (English) |
| ARGENTA RISES
AGAIN Ian Brown reports on an important reissue from Argenta's classic zarzuela series, by small independent Novoson (Español) (English) |
PARTY
POOPER Marina Bollaín's salsa street party Verbena may be a hit, but for Christopher Webber the sangria turns sour (Español) (English) |
| IN THE MUSTY MUSIC
ROOM Christopher Webber reports on the search for fool's gold ... a batch of Spanish Italian operas (that's right) by Martín, García and Arrieta - and a refreshing zarzueloid novelty by Castel (Español) (English) |
A JOB FOR THE
BOYS After their CD triumph with Torregrosa, the virtuoso trebles of El Escorial tackle Chueca, with fantastic aplomb (Español) (English) |
| ALONSO'S CURRO EL DE
LORA "the most important zarzuela recording of the last twenty years". Ignacio Jassa Haro reviews... (Español) (English) |
LA TEMPRANICA
(DG) A triumph for María Bayo, and a new benchmark recording. DG's failure to distribute it worldwide, then, is "sad, mad and bad". (Español) (English) |
| MONCKTON
- SONGS FROM THE SHOWS Highly influential worldwide (not least on the opereta-zarzuela) Monckton's Edwardian show songs come up fresh as paint in a desirable compilation from Hyperion (Español) (English) |
ENSAMBLE DE MADRID -
ZARZUELA EN FORMATO DE CÁMARA VOLS 2 + 3 Two further volumes in a delightful series of sextet arrangements (Español) (English) |
| SHORT
REVIEW ROUNDUP 2007 CDs which slipped through the zarzuela.net, including a recital by Manuel Sirera, tonadillas by Manuel García, and a José Bros / María Gallego gala (Español) (English) |
ZARZUELA FOR
KIDS? A new disc of Spanish songs from the boys of Escolania del Escorial has a fascinating filler - a children's zarzuela from 1903! (Español) (English) |
| ZARZUELA
BALADA Hangman, Hangman! and its sequel, cartoon ballad-operas by Catalan-American Leonardo Balada, reviewed on stage in Madrid, and on Naxos CD (Español) (English) |
BRETÓN: WORKS
FOR PIANO TRIO A sunny new version of Bretón's little-known chamber repertoire from Naxos |
| GOTTSCHALK
ORCHESTRAL WORKS (NAXOS) Featuring the composer's only surviving stage work, the tonadilla Escenas Campestras Cubanas |
TOLDRÀ - EL
GIRAVOLT DE MAIG One of the hidden treasures of Catalan stage music in a beautiful new recording from Harmonia Mundi France (Español) (English) |
| ROLANDO
VILLAZÓN - GITANO Andrew Lamb welcomes a winning recital CD/DVD from Virgin Classics, involving two great tenors for the price of one! (Español) (English) |
ZARZUELAS Four complete "classic" recordings from Naïve, bargain-boxed in one slimline package. How do they stack up? (Español) (English) |
| [ all reviews in CD MAGAZINE ] |
| features & books |
| OFFENBACH, COMPOSITOR DE ZARZUELAS Enrique Mejías García's invaluable study goes far beyond Offenbach's 1870 visit to Madrid. Christopher Webber reviews (Español) (English) |
LA ZARZUELA ROMANTIQUE Pierre-René Serna's new book completes the story begun by 'La Zarzuela Baroque'. Christopher Webber reviews (English) |
| JESÚS GARCÍA LEOZ Though best known for his film scores, Leoz's contribution to zarzuela should not be forgotten. A brief biographical article (English) |
THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO OPERETTA Andrew Lamb reviews an informative new companion to operetta studies, including chapters on Gilbert and Sullivan... and zarzuela (English) |
| LA ZARZUELA BAROQUE Pierre-René Serna's new guide to early zarzuela is a groundbreaker. Christopher Webber reviews it (English) |
CHUECA IN MANHATTAN An imaginative collaboration between Luis Belliard School and Hispanic Culture Arts Inc. (English) |
| LOSS OF NERVE AND NEBRA The current production at Teatro de la Zarzuela is marketed as a revival of 'Iphigenia en Tracia'. El paìs says it is nothing of the kind. Christopher Webber on a depressing trend... (Español) (English) |
LUCRECIA ARANA AT 150 Anna Tonna on Líricas del Mundo's Arana concert Adventure Christopher Webber on Fundación Mariano Benlliure's exhibition catalogue and CD (English) |
| LUNA'S ENGLISH OPERETTA A major article on Pablo Luna's The First Kiss, by Andrew Lamb and Christopher Webber (English) |
LA MALQUERIDA Penella's last zarzuela to be revived at Teatros del Canal, reports Enrique Mejías García (Español) (English) |
| MARÍA AND
GREGORIO MARTÍNEZ SIERRA The unique wife-and-husband writing team, a biographical article by Mario Lerena (Español) (English) |
MUSIC THEATER AND POPULAR NATIONALISM IN SPAIN... Clinton Young's fine study of romantic zarzuela, history and politics, reviewed by Christopher Webber (English) |
|
FRANCISCO ALONSO - OTRA CARA DE LA
MODERNIDAD |
FROM FAMINE
TO FEAST Editorial comment on the 2015-2016 season plans at Teatro de la Zarzuela (Christopher Webber) (English) |
| VERDI Y
ESPAÑA Professor Víctor Sánchez Sánchez's new study, reviewed by Enrique Mejías García. (Español) (English) |
DIMENSIONES
Y DESAFÍOS DE LA ZARZUELA A collection of ten essays from the 2013 Göttingen symposium, dedicated to zarzuela today. Review by Christopher Webber (Español) (English) |
| THE SOROZÁBAL
SINGER Javier Galán, one of Spain's brightest young baritone talents, in conversation with Pedro Gómez Manzanares (Español) (English) |
COLOQUIO
INTERNACIONAL ANDANZAS DE LA ZARZUELA, GÖTTINGEN, GERMANY Antje Dreyer and Arndt Lainck report (Español) |
| YOUNG
INNOVATORS Lorenzo Moncloa and Carlos Crooke talk to Pedro Gómez Manzanares about 'El paraíso de los niños' (Español) (English) |
TROUBLE AT
MILL Teatro de la Zarzuela's plans for the 2014/15 season have raised a storm of controversy. We present a triple editorial of opposing views (Español) (English) |
| ENRIQUE
BAQUERIZO 'The Quixote of Music'. Pedro Gómez Manzanares interviews one the greatest of contemporary Spanish singers (Español) (English) |
TORROBA:
A MUSICAL LIFE IN THREE ACTS A major American biography proves a milestone, clearing the mists around Torroba's political connections. Christopher Webber reviews (Español) (English) |
| TEATRO DE
LA ZARZUELA Is the 2013-14 season (just announced) the triumph of PR over aesthetic sense? Christopher Webber writes... |
HORIZONTES DE
LA ZARZUELA Zarzuela Study Days in Cuenca, featuring Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and a host of others (27-29 September 2013) (Español) (English) |
| ENTRE
SEVILLA Y TRIANA A full synopsis, introduction and song texts for Sorozábal's sparkling post-war homage to Sevilla, from Christopher Webber |
ZARZUELA ROMANZAS - VOCAL
SCORES Real Musical-Carisch: 20 Romanzas for Soprano / 20 Romanzas for Tenor (Saúl Aguado, editor) (Español) |
| LECUONA
SCORE Good news for Lecuona fans: an orchestral score of "María la O" from E.B.Marks. Christopher Webber takes a peek |
RICHARD
TRAUBNER Andrew Lamb and Ignacio Jassa Haro pay homage to our great former contributor (Español) (English) |
| LUIS
SAGI-VELA A legend departs, at 99. Christopher Webber pays tribute to one of zarzuela's all-time greats (Español) (English) |
RICARDO
JIMÉNEZ Pedro Gómez Manzanares interviews one of the finest Spanish tenors (Español) (English) |
| ÁNGEL
FERNÁNDEZ MONTESINOS Pedro Gómez Manzanares talks to the doyen of Spanish stage directors (Español) (English) |
GUIDE DE LA
ZARZUELA Christopher Webber is stimulated by a lively new French guide to the genre by Pierre René-Serna |
| GUILLERMO
FERNÁNDEZ-SHAW The appearance of this great librettist's memoirs proves a treasure trove - Enrique Mejías García reviews |
2012-2013 Presentation of Teatro de la Zarzuela's new season - commentary and analysis by Ignacio Jassa Haro (Español) |
| CARLOS
MUNGUÍA DIES Another link with the golden age of zarzuela recording is severed. We have a brief obituary of this fine Basque tenor |
LOLA
CASARIEGO Pedro Gómez Manzanares in conversation with one of Spain's most iconic singers (Español) (English) |
| LA RIOJA
ZARZUELA INSTITUTE, 2012 Pablo Zinger reveals details of a dynamic new venture for young and aspiring zarzuela singers (Español) (English) |
VIENTO ES
LA DICHA DE AMOR - BY DE NEBRA? The new ICCMU critical edition, edited by José Máximo Leza (Gerardo Fernández San Emeterio) (Español) (English) |
| MARCO
MONCLOA "You need to reinvent every day". One of Spain's leading baritones talks to Pedro Gómez Manzanares (Español) (English) |
FELISA
HERRERO A new biography of the soprano known as "the muse of zarzuela" by Pedro Gomez Manzanares (Español) (English) |
| AN AIR OF
ENNUI As the new season begins in Madrid, we have a critical retrospective of Teatro de la Zarzuela's achievement in 2010-11 |
ZARZUELA
CONTRA LA CRISIS Ignacio Jassa Haro on the new season at Teatro de la Zarzuela, the change in management, and zarzuela's "state of the nation" (Español) |
| BÁRBARA
LLANES The leading Cuban lyric soprano, in conversation with Christopher Webber |
TOÑY
ROSADO - MADRILEÑA BONITA Gerardo Fernández San Emeterio with personal memories of a great singer, 15 years after her death (Español) (English) |
| DE LA
ZARZUELA AL CINE - LA VOZ MARGINAL Enrique Mejías García reviews a fascinating collection of essays on "the marginal voice - from zarzuela to cine" (Español) (English) |
ENERGY
INJECTION IN CALLE JOVELLANOS Ignacio Jassa Haro meets the fiery new Musical Director at Teatro de la Zarzuela (Español) (English) |
| "DE MADRID A
LONDRES" Christopher Webber's meets Carlos Aransay - conductor, chorus master, singer, founder of Coro Cervantes... and much else (Español) (English) |
GUERRERO
SCORES Handsome is as handsome does: Christopher Webber takes a look at some new publications from Fundación Guerrero |
| THE FONT MARCO
FAMILY - ILLUMINATING ZARZUELA The famous family of Compañía Lírica Dolores Marco - Montserrat, María Dolores, Amelia, Lorenzo y Eva - talking with Pedro Gómez Manzanares (Español) (English) |
ONE OF US Klaus Heymann, founder of Naxos, talks to Christopher Webber about the label's essential Spanish Classics series (Español) (English) |
| LUIS VARELA Key actor in Spanish contemporary theatre, in conversation with Pedro Gómez Manzanares (English) (Español) |
TWO HUNDRED YEARS
OF MAESTRO CAMPANONE Andrew Lamb delves into the complex history behind one of zarzuela's most curious adaptations, and comes up with some surprising conclusions |
| THE DESERT
BLOOMS Mary Montaño on the fascinating history of zarzuela in New Mexico (Español) (English) |
ZARZUELA IN
SECOND LIFE Metaverse TV present the first, live global lecture on zarzuela - Sunday 28 February at 3pm Pacific Time! |
| CUBAN
ZARZUELA Christopher Webber's full review of Susan Thomas's new study - an "enlightening and indispensable book" (Español) (English) |
CLASSIC
CHAPÍ Delightful picture book / cd souvenir of Teatro de la Zarzuela's "Música clásica" from Fundación Caja Madrid(English) (Español) |
| LOS CHICOS
DE LA ESCUELA Complete texts and translations of Torregrosa and "Quinito" Valverde's one-act zarzuela, written in 1903 for performance by a children's company. |
ANTONIO
GARCÍA GUTIÉRREZ The wild young tiger who wrote the play behind Verdi's "Il Trovatore" and grew into the respected literary lion of La Zarzuela |
| ROBERT
POURVOYEUR The passing of the great international zarzuela aficionado is marked by Andrew Lamb's personal appreciation |
FEDERICO
CHUECA ONE HUNDRED YEARS ON On June 20th 1908, Federico Chueca, El alma de Madrid, died in his beloved city. CHRISTOPHER WEBBER examines the work and reputation of "the great original of zarzuela composers" one hundred years on (Español) (English) |
| CRISTÓBAL OUDRID A short biographical article on one of the founding fathers of the romantic zarzuela.Also new, a synopsis and introduction to his zarzuela BUENAS NOCHES SEÑOR DON SIMÓN |
LA
GENERALA: WHEN VIENNA COMES TO MADRID ANDREW LAMB's comprehensive article was written for the programme of Emilio Sagi's new Teatro de la Zarzuela production, where it appears in Spanish translation. Here is the English original... |
| ANTOINE LE DUC "La Zarzuela - Voyage autour du théâtre lyrique national espagnol" expands on the author's excellent earlier writing. Christopher Webber reviews the new book |
EL
PUDÍN NEGRO DE STORNOWAY An intriguing mix of genres, Torregrosa's neglected comedy classic deserves swift revival - full notes and synopsis (December 28th 2007) |
| A VISIT TO
OVIEDO Andrew Lamb finds plenty to relish in and out of the theatre, at Asturia's 14th Zarzuela Festival |
THE
ZARZUELA COMPANION "The value of this work for English speakers is incalculable." Christopher Webber's book reviewed by Pablo Zinger |
| [ more features in ARCHIVE ] | ZARZUELA
CENSORED! "Spanish Troubles Old and New" a report from EÑAUT OTAZO ALZA |
| News |
| ENRIQUE DEL PORTAL With the popular tenor and actor's death in Madrid, a great link to a glorious past has been severed. Christopher Webber remembers him (Español) (English) |
MIGUEL ROA The death of the influential and much-loved Spanish conductor has been announced from Toledo. An obituary by Christopher Webber (English) |
| RAFAEL
FRÜHBECK DE BURGOS has died in Pamplona, aged 80. An obituary by Andrew Lamb (English) |
RAFAEL
CASTEJÓN One month after the death of his wife, Rafael Castejón has died in Madrid. Once again Pedro Gómez Manzanares writes... (Español) (English) |
| PEPA
ROSADO Pepa Rosado died in Madrid on February 14th 2014. Pedro Gómez Manzanares pays a personal tribute (Español) (English) |
MAESTRO
JOSÉ PERERA has died in Madrid, not long before his 93rd birthday. A tribute from Pedro Gómez Manzanares... (Español)(English) |
| JUAN
JOSÉ The long-delayed premiere of Pablo Sorozábal's "popular lyric drama" announced for Donostia/San Sebastián and Madrid (Español) (English) |
PASIÓN! When Calixto Bieito directs a zarzuela gala, expect more than the customary costume gallery of teeth and smiles. At Theater Basel from next month... |
| PABLO SOROZÁBAL
SERRANO The death has been announced in Madrid of Pablo Sorozábal's only son, Pablo. A brief obituary... |
MANUEL AUSENSI The great Spanish opera and zarzuela baritone, whose death in Barcelona has been announced. Brief obituaries (Español) (English) (2/9/05) |
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