“The Old Woman” ( Spanish: Una vieja ) - Zarzuela in one act by Joaquin Gastambide on the libretto of Francisco Camprodon . The plot is borrowed from the comic opera of the same name ( French: La vieille ) by Francois-Joseph Feti on a text by Eugene Scribe (1826). Zarzuela was first performed in December 1860 at the Madrid Theater of Zarzuela. She finally left the repertoire of Hispanic theaters in the 1940s.
Content
Actors
| Role | Vote | Premiere, December 11/14, 1860 |
|---|---|---|
| Adela | Trinidad Ramos | |
| Conrado, officer | tenor | Manuel Sans |
| Leon, artist | baritone | Ramon Cubero |
| Pancho | Francisco Aderius | |
| Servant | doesn't sing |
Summary
The action takes place in 1826 in Mexico , during the war for the independence of Mexico (in fact, it ended in 1821). Disguised as an old woman, the young Mexican Adela, the widow of a wealthy patriot, managed to cross Texas from Mexico to the front line. She was helped by a detachment of Spaniards under the command of Captain Conrado, with whom she fell in love. He was wounded and captured, but Adela managed to get permission to leave the young man at home, where she nurses him.
By the beginning of the play, he had almost recovered, but was still with her. Servant Pancho announces that he has a guest from Spain. Expecting him, Conrado sings about his homeland and about the unknown sweetheart he is looking for (No. 1). Artist Leon enters, soon the hostess joins them, and Conrado introduces them (No. 2). Leon says that once he was given a photograph of a certain girl with whom he painted a portrait, and the captain fell in love with her. They failed to find the stranger. Accompanied by Adela on the piano, Conrado performs an American song (No. 3).
Pancho learns that the Mexican government has issued a decree sending all prisoners to Texas. Adela and the captain go into the room to think about a way out of this situation, and Leon, who is left alone, imagines how he would sing before the governor (No. 4). Adela draws up a fake prenuptial agreement with Conrado. But Pancho, having mixed everything up, instead of going to a familiar notary, takes him to the city hall, and this marriage becomes real. Leon tries to cheer up the desperate captain (No. 5). Going to her room, the old woman for a moment turns into a beautiful stranger from a portrait of Leon, which leads Conrado to delight and confusion at the same time. Soon, Adela comes out in its true form, the riddle is solved, and young people can enjoy their newfound happiness. Everyone sings about love and pleasure (No. 6).
Musical numbers
- Overture
- No. 1. Cavatina . "Un español que viene à verme aquí" (Conrado)
- № 2. Terzet. “Noble señora tengo el honor” (Adela, Conrado, Leon)
- No. 3. Americana. “Malhayan ¡ay! las brisas ” (Adela, Conrado, Leon)
- No. 4. Arietta ( tango and . "Haré por ponerme triste" (Leon)
- No. 5. The tragic segidilla . "En luchas desiguales" (Conrado, Leon)
- No. 6. Final Rondo. “De un nuevo sol la inmensa claridad” (Adela, Conrado, Leon, Pancho)
Links
- The Old Woman : sheet music by International Music Score Library Project
- (Spanish) Diego Emilio Fernández Álvarez. Una vieja (lazarzuela.webcindario.com)