Spain Various: Javier Camarena, Mariachi Sol de América, Ciudad de Granada Orchestra / Iván López Reynoso (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 12.7.2023. (JMI)
Teatro Real has closed its program for the 2022-2023 opera season with a concert by Mexican tenor Javier Camarena, who is undoubtedly one of the leading tenors today, particularly in light or light-lyrical roles.
The concert had raised expectations among opera fans, but it must be said that Camarena’s program was rather odd, and somewhat disappointing too. When one goes to a concert by a top singer, one expects an exhibition of the artist’s skills, but on this occasion, the concert had three quite different parts. The first section was dedicated to opera, and Camarena sang four arias. The second was devoted to zarzuela, and the tenor sang two of them. Finally, in the third section, he gave his interpretation of Mexican music, accompanied by a mariachi group. Surprisingly, he made use of a microphone here.
He opened with ‘Talor del mio delirio’ from Maria de Rudenz; ‘La mia letizia infondere’ from I Lombardi; an aria from Werther, ‘Pourquoi me reveiller?’; and ‘Ah, fuyez, douce image’ from Manon. The recital did not exceed fifteen minutes and, although he sang with gusto, I found his voice a bit light for these arias.
The two zarzuela songs were ‘De este apacible rincón de Madrid’ from Luisa Fernanda and ‘No Puede ser’ (La Tabernera del Puerto). Both were handled well, and it resulted in a brilliant performance.
Finally, there was a tribute to Camarena’s Mexican homeland, with the tenor accompanied by Mariachi Sol de América. The audience seemed to enjoy it, but I did not share their enthusiasm.
Among the songs in this part of the concert was the always well-received ‘Granada’. It ended with ‘El Rey’, as if we were in the Pamplona Bullring, where people sing it every day. Honestly, it was not what I hoped to hear from this outstanding tenor, but I will say again that the audience seemed to enjoy it, judging by the intensity of the applause.
In the first two sections of the program, he was accompanied by the City of Granada Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Iván López Reynoso, and both conductor and orchestra did very well.
Jose M. Irurzun
Donizetti – Overture to Anna Bolena; ‘Talor nel mio delirio’ from Maria di Rudenz
Verdi – Overture to Les vêpres siciliennes; ‘La mia Letizia infondere’ from I lombardi
Massenet – ‘Pourquoi me reveiller’ from Werther; ‘Ah, fuyez, douce image’ from Manon
Chapí – Prelude to La revoltosa
Moreno Torroba – ‘De este apacible rincón de Madrid’
Sorozábal – ‘No puede ser’
Chabrier – ‘España’
Gardel & Le Pera – ‘El día que me quieras’
Velázquez – ‘Enamorada’
Lara – ‘Granada’
Fuentes & Vargas – ‘Son de la negra’
Jiménez – ‘Si nos dejan’
F. Méndez – ‘¿De qué manera te olvido?’
R. Fuentes – ‘La bikina’
Ramírez & Galindo – ‘La malagueña’
Jiménez – ‘El Rey’