Martierra (Guerrero)

Luis Almodóvar, Tino Folgar, Dorini de Diso, Flora Pereira, Rogelio Baldrich, José Vela. c.? (with Luis Almodóvar and Tino Folgar - zarzuela songs and duets)
Aria SL 1029

Luis Almodóvar, Tino Folgar, Dorini de Diso, Flora Pereira, Rogelio Baldrich, José Vela. c.?
Blue Moon BMCD 7527

[digest from the full review]

Two welcome reissues of the more-or-less original cast recording of Guerrero's neglected full-length zarzuela. In truth Aria's producer Joan Vilà i Miró hits the nail squarely on the head when he says that "Martierra is a typical product of the zarzuela genre, neither better nor worse than others ...", but nonetheless there's plenty to enjoy. The set features Folgar, best known to non-Spanish audiences for his Duke in EMI's first electrical recording of Rigoletto, and baritone Luis Almodóvar. They play the leaders of two rival factions in the imaginary village "between the mountains and the sea" which gives the zarzuela its name.

Both stars acquit themselves well, though the sopranos in support are indifferent, and Aria score heavily over the opposition with a more opulent transfer, and rare couplings of greater interest than Blue Moon's extracts from La Rosa del Azafrán.

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