Operetta Review -
Feb. 18/03
TORONTO
OPERETTA THEATRE - "CECILIA VALDES"
Toronto Operetta Theatre presented an excellent
semi-staged version of the Singspiel Cubano "Cecilia Valdes" over the
weekend. Written by Cuban composer Gonzalo Roig in 1932, the zarzuela is filled
with wonderfully infectious folkloric rhythms and dances. In his day, Roig was
lionized as the composer of the famous song "Quiereme Mucho" which
the company performed as an encore, and invited the audience to sing along.
The story is bizarre, to say the least. Set in 1830, the
beautiful mulatto girl Cecilia is in love with the aristocratic white student
Leonardo, unaware that he is her half-brother. Cecilia, in turn, is loved by
the black musician Pimienta. When the betrayed Cecilia gives birth to a child,
Pimienta vows revenge, and kills Leonardo on the latter's wedding day to fellow
aristocrat Isabel. In between, we got a wonderful array of tuneful songs and
dances skilfully guided by musical director and pianist José Hernández.
In a stunning coup, TOT found a beautiful mulatto for the
part of Cecilia. Dana Campbell not only possesses a pretty lyric soprano, she
gave a powerful and dramatic performance. Her Leonardo, import Cuban tenor
Adolfo Casas, has a ringing voice despite nearing the end of his career.
Mezzo-soprano Gisèle Fredette stole the show as the mad Dolores, with the
members of the excellent chorus filling in the other parts including promising
baritone Stuart Graham and mezzo-soprano Lauren Segal as Pimienta and Isabel
respectively. Guillermo Silva-Marin was excellent as the droll narrator.
I'm Paula Citron,
arts reviewer for CLASSICAL 96.3 FM.
Visit www.torontooperetta.com