FIU Music Festival 2023:
La Ruta de Don Quixote: A Zarzuela World Premiere!
November 4, 2023 at The Wertheim
The FIU Wertheim School of Music and Performing Arts presented the world premiere of the Zarzuela, "La Ruta de Don Quijote," an exceptional work based on the famous text by Cervantes, with music by the Alicante-born composer Rafael Rodríguez Albert. Rodríguez Albert was blind, and a contemporary and friend of Falla and Ravel. He won multiple prizes for his work - El Nacional de Composición" Manuel de Falla" in 1977 and was twice awarded the Premio Nacional de Música (1952 and 61).
Composed in 1930, the work displays an excellent quality of its music, an extraordinary and refined orchestration. Rodríguez Albert set a perfect adaptation, marrying the voice to the text and its rich content. Rodríguez Albert´s music submerges the audience for almost two hours in the fun, magical, and heroic universe created by Cervantes more than 400 years ago. "La Ruta de Don Quixote" is truly a paradigm and symbol of the Hispanic world and its universal literature.
"La Ruta de Don Quixote" was never performed during Rodríguez Albert´s lifetime due to unknown reasons. It is an honor for FIU to collaborate with Madrid's Maestro Gustavo Sánchez in bringing this work to life 97 years after its completion.
Musicians:
Rafael Rodriguez Albert, composer
Víctor Cruz, Don Quijote
Francisco Díaz-Carrillo, Sancho Panza
Pepa García-Maciá, Maritornes/Antonio/Duquesa/Sanchica
L aura Leon, Dulcinea/Aldeana 1/Trifaldin
Edgar Abreu, Fraíle/Voz interno/Maestresala/Barbero
Alejandro Viera, Gines de Pasamonte/Duque/Sanson Carrasco
Diego Frojet, Ventero
Catherin Meza, Hija del Ventero/Condesa Trifaldi
David Santacecilia, violin concertmaster
Federico Figueroa, stage director
Gustavo Sánchez, conductor
F IU Symphony Orchestra
Sponsors
Thank you to WLRN and OceanBank for their generous sponsorship of the FIU Wertheim Music Festival. With the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.
Supported by a grant from Acción Cultural Española (AC/E).