Cupid Extravaganza: Unique Spanish Comedy makes its modern world debut in downtown Dallas on Valentine’s Day

Yoori S. Marti
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Many around this time of the year do not have plans for Valentine’s day and may be wondering how they can make this year’s holiday special.  How about the possibility of going to see a 2-hour show filled with gorgeous arias sung by renown singers in stunning period costumes accompanied by a live orchestra and dancers adorning the stage?  

On February 14 and 16 both at 7:30 pm, the Orchestra of New Spain will present an operetta (smaller and shorter opera) “Cupid’s New Weapons of Love” by Sebastian Duron. This international production, in Dallas' new City Performance Hall, includes cast, directors and designers from Spain, Mexico and Argentina.  The City Performance Hall is the newest addition to the cluster of cultural buildings in the heart of Dallas Arts District, where culture flourishes at the Meyerson (home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra), the opera house Winspear and the Dallas Museum of Art among others.  The Orchestra’s production of this Spanish operetta will add to the variety of cultural venues that Dallas has to offer. 

This production is a significant event in the history of Spanish staged productions.  No other company has invested the effort and resources necessary to present a work of this nature in this original style.  “Bring your obligatory Valentine’s date!” says Grover Wilkins, who has been the music director of the Orchestra of New Spain since its inception 24 years ago.  He says that the plot of this comedy will appeal to people of all ages and stages in life.  In this mythological story, mischievous Cupid is stripped of his bow and arrow by Jupiter after protests from the people of Cyprus.  The disarmed Cupid seeks his revenge by joining forces with goddess Diana, who together declare war with Jupiter and finally win back Cupid’s ‘Arms of Love.’

The story of the Cupid’s operetta comes from the Roman mythology (text was written by Jose de Canizares), but the music showcases the fabulous and dramatic theatrical tradition of European and Latin American heritage.  The history of this zarzuela (another name for comic Spanish operetta) dates back to the 18^th century when theater was wildly popular in Madrid and when it was premiered in the Teatro del Principe (now called Teatro Espanole, the oldest functioning theatre in Spain) in 1711. 

Wilkins says that this Dallas production will be done just as they would have done it in the 18^th century in dance, music, comedy, stage and costumes, the first in its kind since 1711, and the Orchestra of New Spain hopes to tour with the cast in Spain, the land from which this zarzuela originated.  The great acoustics of the City Performance Hall and the intimate size of the Hall are a perfect fit for this cast of dancers, singers and instrumentalists.  The audience will get an up close and personal experience of Spanish music and theatre in its splendor of the baroque culture.  The Orchestra has a show for the DISD children on the morning of the 15^th and will record the entirety on the 17^th.

“The biggest challenge in this production” admits Wilkins, “is raising the money to make the show as true to its original style, as splendid as it would have been in its day, not just a local production.  The other challenge is making sure the production attracts other producers to present in Spain and in the US as we hope to take this production to other countries to perform.”  The Orchestra of New Spain just wrapped its successful annual fundraising dinner on January 20 at the Adolphus Hotel, where the patrons enjoyed listening to excerpts from the zarzuela sung by Mexican mezzo Carla Lopez Speziale (Cupid) and Irasema Terrazas Lopez (Diana).  The rehearsals are in full swing under the direction of celebrated Stage Director Gustavo Tambascio, whose successful career has taken him to Madrid, Naples and Sevilla from his native Argentina.  “(this Orchestra) is doing what no one in Spain is willing to do, that is to present the musico/theatrical repertory of Spain in a rich, authentic reproduction,” lauds Tambascio .  

“If you want to make your Valentine’s day extra special for your loved ones or for yourself, this is the one thing you want to go to in Dallas,” says Yoori Marti, the general manager of the Orchestra.  “Your date will never forget how unique and romantic this Valentine day was.”  Tickets are available at 214 750 1492 or can be purchased online at www.OrchestraOfNewSpain.Org or via email at [log in to unmask]