Gitano - Zarzuela Arias

1	La Tabernera del Puerto,
2	Doña Francisquita, zarzue
3	La Alegria del batallon,
4	La Picara Molinera, zarzu
5	Luisa Fernanda, zarzuela:
6	El ultimo romantico, zarz
7	La Dolorosa, zarzuela: La
8	Los Gavilanes, zarzuela:
9	El Huésped del Sevillano,
10	El Guitarrico, zarzuela:
11	El Trust de los Tenorios,
12	La Del Manojo de Rosas, z
13	La del soto del parral, z
14	Maravilla, zarzuela: Amor
15	Luna, zarzuela: Un gitano
Gitano - Zarzuela Arias
1.	La Tabernera del Puerto, zarzuela: No puede ser 2:44
	Composed by Pablo Sorozabal
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
2.	Doña Francisquita, zarzuela: Por el humo se sabe dónde está 4:19
	Composed by Amadeo Vives
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
3.	La Alegria del batallon, zarzuela: Canción guajira 2:19
	Composed by José Serrano
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
4.	La Picara Molinera, zarzuela: Pajarin, tú que vuelas 4:55
	Composed by Pablo Luna
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
5.	Luisa Fernanda, zarzuela: De este apacible rincón de Madrid 3:27
	Composed by Federico Moreno Torroba
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
6.	El ultimo romantico, zarzuela: Bella enamorada 4:23
	Composed by Reveriano Soutullo Otero / Juan Vert Carbonell
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
7.	La Dolorosa, zarzuela: La roca fría del Calvario (Relato) 4:04
	Composed by José Serrano
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
8.	Los Gavilanes, zarzuela: Mi aldea 3:58
	Composed by Jacinto Guerrero
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
9.	El Huésped del Sevillano, zarzuela: Raquel 3:27
	Composed by Jacinto Guerrero
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
10.	El Guitarrico, zarzuela: Suena guitarrico mío (Jota de Perico) 4:02
	Composed by Agustín Pérez Soriano
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
11.	El Trust de los Tenorios, zarzuela: Te quiero, morena (Jota) 2:35
	Composed by José Serrano
12.	La Del Manojo de Rosas, zarzuela: Madrileña bonita 2:53
	Composed by Pablo Sorozabal
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
13.	La del soto del parral, zarzuela: Ya mis horas felices 5:10
	Composed by Reveriano Soutullo Otero / Juan Vert Carbonell
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
14.	Maravilla, zarzuela: Amor, vida de mi vida 3:22
	Composed by Federico Moreno Torroba
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra
15.	Luna: Un gitano sin su honor 5:18
	Composed by José María Cano
	Conducted by Plácido Domingo
	Performed by Rolando Villazón and Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra

Barnes & Noble

If there were any doubt left that Rolando Villazón is the successor to Plácido Domingo as the world's leading tenor, this glorious CD should settle that question once and for all. While Zarzuelas are usually described as Spanish operetta -- light classics, in other words -- listen to Villazón sing them, and you'd swear you'd stumbled across some undiscovered trove of Puccini, so impassioned and ardently lyrical are his performances, especially in numbers like Frederico Moreno Torroba's "Amor, vida de mi vida," which momentarily calls to mind the famous La Bohème aria "Che gelida manina." Other selections are indeed frothier than that barn-burner, often invoking colorful Spanish dance rhythms, as on Augustín Pérez Soriano's "Suena guitarico mío." But this is no set of salon charmers, and Villazón summons bottomless reserves of romantic fervor, every so often at the risk of oversinging. It's certainly fitting that Domingo is along as conductor here; he helped to bring this music to the attention of a worldwide audience. In passing the baton to Villazón, as it were, Domingo has anointed a worthy heir. Could there be higher praise? EJ Johnson

All Music Guide

Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón has been touted as a worthy successor to Plácido Domingo, and on the basis of this recording of romanzas from Spanish zarzuelas, that claim should be taken seriously. Villazón's large voice is extraordinarily like Domingo's, with rock-solid technique, heroic tone, and impassioned delivery. He sings with a thrilling abandon that would sound reckless if it were not for his absolute security. Those attributes serve him well in this virtuosic repertoire. Anyone who appreciates late romantic operatic showcases is likely to find these romanzas strongly attractive. The examples here come from the golden age of the zarzuela, from about the first third of the twentieth century (plus one entry from 1998) and have a distinctly Spanish flavor, a Puccinian lyricism, and a deeply emotional expressivity. These fully committed performances, by a singer of Villazón's strengths, make a compelling case for this repertoire, which is too little represented in non-Hispanic opera houses. Plácido Domingo, Villazón's mentor, conducting the Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra, knows this repertoire intimately and provides idiomatic and energetic support. The only caveat is that there is a sameness in the emotional intensity of the romanzas that will be thrilling for fans of the style and of the heroic tenor sound, but which may be appreciated by some listeners when taken in smaller doses, a few selections at a time. The sound is vivid and well-balanced. Stephen Eddins

Gramophone

[Villazón's] rich tone is armed with an energetic thrust in the finely edged high notes. He is supple, a master of the distinctly Spanish art of vocal play. His manner carries total conviction. John Steane

Toronto Star

1/2 Villazón sings these pieces...with a clear, forthright energy that compels the listener.... Viva Domingo, and viva Villazon, his worthy successor. John Terauds