Operetta Returns to the Rodrigo Prats Theater with Three Classics from the Lyric Repertoire

The Rodrigo Prats Lyric Theater resumes its theatrical program this weekend with “Operetta Selections.” A show featuring excerpts from three essential works of the genre. “The Princess of the Czardas,” “The Pharaoh’s Court,” and “The Merry Widow.” Performances will take place on November 13th and 14th at 5:00 p.m., according to the company.

The production aims to introduce audiences to the beauty of the music, the singing, and the charm of a genre. It combines humor, romance, and great melodies. Under the artistic direction of Alfredo Más López and the general direction of Liudmila Pérez López. Also the Holguin-based group presents a selection format that allows audiences to enjoy emblematic passages from three beloved operatic works in a single performance.

Moreover this close connection with the public is no accident. The tradition of opera in Holguin has its cornerstone in the founding of the Rodrigo Prats Lyric Theater on November 16th, 1962. When a group of amateur singers, under the direction of baritone Raúl Camayd. They premiered the zarzuela “The Hawks” to an audience that responded with such enthusiasm that they demanded a second performance.

What began as an initiative born amidst the hardships of those years soon became an inseparable institution of Holguin’s cultural life. Thanks to the discipline of its members and the ability of its founders to recognize talent where others saw only laborers, students, or housewives.

For over six decades, the company has cultivated a tradition that transcends zarzuela to encompass operetta, opera, and musical revue. With a repertoire exceeding ninety titles and a commitment to training that has nurtured several generations of opera singers from eastern Cuba. This continuity, sustained by generational succession and the support of an audience that has embraced the genre. It explains why Holguin remains a leading center for opera in Cuba.

The titles chosen for this occasion are not random. “The Princess of the Czardas,” by Emmerich Kálmán, is part of the company’s established repertoire, which it first staged around 2007. “The Pharaoh’s Court,” the zarzuela by Vicente Lleó, has been presented on several occasions. Including international tours such as the one in Lima, Peru. And Franz Lehár’s “The Merry Widow” is one of the theater’s emblems: it premiered in 1971 and had a memorable revival in 2020.

Also the artistic direction of Alfredo Más López, a baritone associated with the company since 1996. And the management of Liudmila Pérez López have allowed this legacy to be preserved and renewed with accessible offerings for diverse audiences. With only two performances, the invitation is open to share two days of art and good music.

By: Daimy Peña Guillén

Radio Angulo
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