La Dolores

La Dolores is a Spanish opera (ópera Española) in 3 acts by Tomás Bretón. The libretto was arranged by composer himself from a same-name drama by Josep Feliu i Codina (1892). The opera was first performed at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid on 16 March 1895[1] and was an immediate success. The most famous piece from the opera is the grandiose jota from the finale of the first act.

First edition cover

Composition and Performance History

For many years Bretón struggled to establish the genre of Spanish national opera. La Dolores is one of his nine operas, none of which remained in the standard repertoire. However, at the time of its composition it gained great success, having 53 consecutive performances in Madrid and another 103 in Barcelona.[2]

In the Spanish edition the opera has a subtitle ópera Española, while in the Italian it is called a dramma lirico. It is dedicated to Anselmo González del Valle.

Roles
Role[3] Voice type Cast at the Madrid premiere[3]
Dolores, maid at Gaspara's inn soprano Avelina Corona
Gaspara, Lázaro's aunt, an innkeeper mezzo-soprano Castellanos
Lázaro, a seminarian, who is in love with Dolores tenor Lorenzo Simonetti
Celemín, a friend of Patricio tenor Alcántara
Melchor, a barber, former lover of Dolores baritone Mestres
Patricio, a rich man from Calatayud baritone Visconti
Rojas, an "exaggerated" sergeant bass Pepe Sigler
A mulateer tenor Vera
Mixed chorus, boys' chorus

Synopsis

The action is placed in 1830s, in Calatayud, a town in Aragón. The title character Dolores is a maid at an inn.[4]

Music

The prelude is based on the themes of the three protagonists: it opens with the jota about Dolores (Si vas a Calatayud), which is interrupted by Melchor's theme (from the duo in act 1) and the theme of Lázaro's love (from his duo with Dolores in act 2). Only then the jota is presented in its full form.

Apart from many recitatives and dialogues, there are major musical numbers.

  • Act I:
    • Scene 1: Chorus. Trabaja, trabaja, que es fiesta mañana (mixed chorus)
    • Scene 1: Comic aria. ¡Salud, salud al noble pueblo de Calatayud! (Rojas with chorus)
    • Scene 2: Trio. Capaz un trono por ti (Dolores, Patricio, Rojas)
    • Scene 4: Duo. Saldar debes antes la deuda (Dolores, Melchor)
    • Scene 5: Pasacalle. En noches de verbena (chorus)
    • Scene 5: Jota. Aragón la más famosa (Celemín, a singer, chorus)
    • Scene 5: Soleá. Desde que al pueblo he llegao (Rojas)
    • Scene 5: Jota. Si vas a Calatayud (Melchor)
  • Act II:
    • Prelude
    • Scene 2: Madrigal. ¡Qué hacer, Señor, en situación tan ruda! (Lázaro)
    • Scene 3: Scherzetto. Este pañuelo encarnado (Patricio)
    • Scene 4: Polo. Así que en el circo (Rojas with chorus)
    • Scene 7: ¡Dolores, si pequé! (Dolores, Melchor)
    • Scene 9: Duo. Un año dentro del alma (Dolores, Lázaro)
    • Scene 11: ¡Viva Patricio, viva, viva! (corrida; soloists and chorus)
  • Act III:
    • Prelude
    • Scene 2: Duettino. Escucha y la calma mantén (Celemín, Lázaro)
    • Scene 5: Romance. Tarde sentí cuitada (Dolores)
    • Scene 6: Duo. Di que es verdad (Dolores, Lázaro)
    • Scene 6: Rondalla (off-stage; music from the finale of act I: instrumental jota and Si vas a Calatayud sung by Celemín)
    • Scene 7: Mi intento fue solo (Dolores, Melchor)

Recordings

La Dolores is the only opera by Bretón to be recorded: Antoni Ros-Marbà's 1999 audio recording of Plácido Domingo in La Dolores for Decca won the Grammy Latino in September 2000.[5] There is also a 2004 video recording, also by Ros-Marbà (though the soloists differ).

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References
  1. La Dolores de Calatayud (in Spanish)
  2. Susana Salgado The Teatro Solís p. 83
  3. Based on the Romero vocal score available at IMSLP, with additional information from lazarzuela.wencinario.com
  4. Mason, Henry Lowell (1864–1957) (1912). Opera Stories (5th ed.). Boston, Massachusetts. p. 92. hdl:1802/23193. La Dolores – Act I: Dolores is attendant of Gaspara, Innkeeper at the Spanish town, Catalayud [sic]. Celemino tells the rich Patrizio to forswear Dolores saying she loves Melchior a barber. Soldiers enter. Sergeant Rojas is smitten with Dolores.
  5. Past winners search, Latin Grammy History
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