USU Opera Theatre Presents 'Luisa Fernanda' at the Caine Lyric Theatre

Utah State University’s Opera Theatre, a program based in the Department of Music and the Caine School of the Arts in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, presents Luisa Fernanda, a comic opera by Spanish composer Frederico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982) and librettists Federico Romero and Guillermo Fernández Shaw.

Luisa Fernanda is a zarzuela grande, the Spanish form of a comic opera. USU’s production is presented April 10, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. with an additional matinee performance at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12.

 

Performances are at the Caine Lyric Theatre, 28 West Center Street, and tickets can be purchased from the Caine Lyric Theatre box office one hour before curtain. Students can attend the opera free. General seating is $10, and senior citizen tickets are $5.

 

Luisa Fernanda is a 19th century work with a unique blend of dramatic dialogue and musical theatre style melodies, said Lynn Jemison-Keisker, director of USU’s Opera Theatre program. Zarzuela offers an appealing palate of Spanish dance rhythms and musical recitation tied inextricably to the subtle accent and color of the Spanish language, she said. Dramatic motivation of the characters defines the musical setting.

 

Based upon the 1868 revolutionary movement during the reign of Queen Isabel II, Luisa Fernanda was originally written in three acts. Libertarian speeches, elegant comedy, revolutionary politics and high-spirited characters reflect both the sophistication of Madrid and the simplicity of the Spanish countryside.

 

The work is considered one of the last great romantic zarzuela, Jemison-Keisker said. Opera legend Placido Domingo made his debut at 16 in the leading role of Javier, and sang the role of Vidal Hernando, most recently in Los Angeles (June, 2007), as well as for the Teatro Real de Madrid (on dvd). Domingo’s parents were zarzuela artists, and he became a strong proponent of this Spanish art form, being responsible for the remounting of recent productions in the United States by both Washington Opera and Los Angeles Opera.

 

“We know you will enjoy this rare opportunity to hear the passionate zarzuela, Luisa Fernanda, sung in Spanish with English supertitles, Jemison-Keisker said.

 

Guest stage director Rachel M. Harris returns to USU Opera Theatre to collaborate on the project with Jemison-Keisker, who also serves as pianist-conductor, and 45 outstanding young artists.

 

 

 

Contact: Lynn Jemison-Keisker (435) 770-4248, Lkeisker@aol.com
Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354