Vocal Score
SKU:
HL.327310
Cuban
Zarzuela in Two Acts
Vocal Score. Composed
by Gonzalo Roig. E.B.
Marks. Softcover. 136
pages. Edward B. Marks
Music #MP800001.
Published by Edward B.
Marks Music (HL.327310).
ISBN 9781540081155.
UPC: 888680989248.
9.5x12.0x0.708
inches.
Cecilia
Valdes is a Cuban
Zarzuela based on the
novel by Cirilo
Villaverde. It is a work
of importance for its
quality, and its
revelation of the
interaction of classes
and races in Havana,
Cuba. The story takes
place in colonial Cuba
around 1830. The young
and beautiful woman of
mixed-race, Cecilia
Valdés, is the
illegitimate daughter of
powerful land magnate and
slave trader, Cándido
de Gamboa. Leonardo de
Gamboa is his legitimate
son. Leonardo falls in
love with Cecilia, not
realizing that she is his
own half-sister, and they
become lovers. At the
same time, a poor black
musician, José Dolores
Pimienta, is also
hopelessly in love with
Cecilia. Cecilia rejects
Pimenta's advances and
conceives Leonardo's son.
However, love between
Leonardo and Cecilia does
not last. He abandons her
and becomes betrothed to
a white upper class
woman, Isabel Ilincheta.
Cecilia turns to the
faithful Pimienta to plan
revenge. On the day of
his wedding, Leonardo is
assassinated on the steps
of the cathedral by
Pimienta who acts on the
instigation of Cecilia.
Pimienta is executed, and
she is thrown in prison.
This edition has been
arranged by Evan
Hause.