From 1 to 19 October, the opera Pepita Jiménez by Isaac Albéniz in a version by Pablo Sorozábal returns to the Teatro de la Zarzuela.
Under the expert operatic baton of Guillermo García Calvo and the always passionate and intelligent stage direction of Giancarlo del Monaco, the public will return to the coliseum of Teresa Berganza’s square to enjoy performances that can be considered historic, since it is the first performance of the final version made by Pablo Sorozábal.
The original story of Pepita Jiménez comes from the homonymous novel that Juan Valera wrote in 1874 -very popular in those days of its publication-, which was converted into opera -in English- by Isaac Albéniz and performed in different musical versions.
The cast features three high-flying “Pepitas”, which will come to life thanks to the sopranos Ángeles Blancas, Carmen Romeu and Maite Alberola; the young seminarian who is the object of the conflict will be played by tenors Leonardo Caimi and Antoni Lliteres; a Antoñona, Pepita’s nurse, it will be played by the mezzosopranos Ana Ibarra and Cristina Faus; the role of Pedro Vargas, father of Luis, will be played by the baritone Rodrigo Esteves; the bass Rubén Amoretti will be the vicar confidente of Pepita, and the baritone Pablo López, of the count of Genazahar, suitor of the young woman. The tenor Josep Fadó and the baritone Iago García Rojas (both officers in the service of the count), complete the singular cast.
The acclaimed Titular Chorus of the Teatro de la Zarzuela directed by Antonio Fauró also participates in the performances, as well as a body of ten dancers-extras.
In this story, the young Luis, destined for the priesthood, falls in love with the young widow Pepita, although he maintains an internal struggle by not wanting to accept the passionate love of the widow. Based on the homonymous novel by Juan Valera, in it the author makes a delicate portrait of the conflicts between desire and duty, written with elegance and psychological depth. Tickets can be purchased at this link.
