Update Title: C467C613-3523-4D2E-9A8C-933AD7B9958E

Titlecode

Title Name

Marketing Copy

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.
 
Musical numbers:
1. Prelude: Instrumental on selections from love theme “El corazon no sabe mentir”
2. Po po po: An Afro-Cuban tango congo sung by ex-slave Dolores Santa Cruz
3. Yo Soy Cecilia Valdes – Salida de Cecilia (Song of Cecilia)
4. Marcha de los Estudiantes (Marcha Habana)
5 Dulce Quimera (Sweet Chimera)
6. Lamento de la Esclava (The Slave’s Lament)
7. Eres Mi Sueno (You are My Dream), aka Gran Duo
8. Tanila (sung by Dolores Santa Cruz,)
9. El corazon no sabe mentir (The heart does not know how to lie)
8. La Contradanza (ballet instrumental)
9. Hija del Amore (daughter of love) aka Cancion de Cuna, Lullaby
10. Sanctus

Instrumentation

Commission

Dedication

Program Notes

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 mulatta, 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.
 
Musical numbers:
1. Prelude: Instrumental on selections from love theme “El corazon no sabe mentir”
2. Po po po: An Afro-Cuban tango congo sung by ex-slave Dolores Santa Cruz
3. Yo Soy Cecilia Valdes – Salida de Cecilia (Song of Cecilia)
4. Marcha de los Estudiantes (Marcha Habana)
5 Dulce Quimera (Sweet Chimera)
6. Lamento de la Esclava (The Slave’s Lament)
7. Eres Mi Sueno (You are My Dream), aka Gran Duo
8. Tanila (sung by Dolores Santa Cruz,)
9. El corazon no sabe mentir (The heart does not know how to lie)
8. La Contradanza (ballet instrumental)
9. Hija del Amore (daughter of love) aka Cancion de Cuna, Lullaby
10. Sanctus

Title Brand

Year Composed

Duration

Ensemble Size

Date Created

Date Updated

Inhouse Note

Bsc Code

Text Author

Premier Performance Memo

Recording Credits

Review

Awards

Title Category

Title Movements

Title Grade

Set Series ID

Title Instrument Category Text

Title Sub Category Text

Title Sub Category

Title Instrument Header

Title Grade Text

Clean Url