Aurora Peña & La festería | Bravura

This recording pays tribute to María Mayor Ordóñez, known as “la Mayorita”, a native of Andújar one of the most celebrated actresses of Spanish musical theatre in the eighteenth century, as well as one of the great stars of the Madrid stage. At a time when singing actresses were the true protagonists of the theatre, la Mayorita dazzled audiences with a wide-ranging voice, exceptional virtuosity, and great stage charisma. Although little known today, she was widely admired and acclaimed in her own time. This album brings together arias from zarzuelas written for her—El buen marido by Fabián García Pacheco, El amor en la aldea by José Castel, and Escipión en Cartagena by Antonio Rodríguez de Hita—and is completed with Castel’s tonadilla El chasco del usía, showcasing both her virtuoso side and her comic talent. A sonic journey into the splendour of Spanish musical theatre in the second half of the eighteenth century.

El buen marido (Zarzuela, 1770). Fabián García Pacheco | Ramón de la Cruz

[1] Obertura

[2] Del rayo que la nube (Aria de Magdalena)

El amor en la aldea (Zarzuela, 1774). José Castel | Antonio Vázquez

[3] Obertura

[4] Vosotras sois felices (Aria de Faustina)

[5] Ya no tengo, ay de mí (Recitado de Faustina)

[6] ¿En qué te ofendí? (Aria de Faustina)

El chasco del usía (Tonadilla escénica, 1774). José Castel

[7] Hoy la Mayora (Allegretto)

[8] Estaba yo ajustando (Allegretto-Allegro)

[9] Escuchad los lamentos (Andantino-Allegro vivo)

Escipión en Cartagena (Zarzuela, 1770). Antonio Rodríguez de Hita | Agustín Cordero

[10] Obertura

[11] Corre la triste nave (Aria de Emisara)

[12] No puede, no, mi pecho (Aria de Emisara)