El juramento (Spanish for The Oath) is a 3-act zarzuela by Joaquín Gaztambide for libretto by Luis de Olona. Its central character (the Marquis) is taken from a French operetta La Rose de Peronne by Eugène Scribe and Adolphe Adam (1840), but the new work is entirely original.See Olona's preface in the 1858 libretto edition (available on IMSLP). It was first staged on 20 December 1858 at the Teatro de la Zarzuela.Calendario musical para 1860, p.27.This date is printed on the title page of the 1858 libretto edition. It is thought to be among Gaztambide's best compositions and one of the most important scores in the history of zarzuela. The first modern performance took place in 2000 in Madrid Teatro de la Zarzuela.
Roles RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 20 December 1858MaríasopranoJosefa MoraThe BaronesssopranoLuisa SantamaríaMarquis de San EstebanbaritoneTirso de Obregón Don CarlosbaritoneRamón Cubero The CountbassFrancisco CalvetCorporal PeraltabaritoneFrancisco SalasSebastiáncomic tenorVicente CaltañazorChorus: officers, soldiers, countrymen of both sex
Musical numbers Act I No. 1. Prelude and introduction. ¡Ellos son!, ¡ellos son! (María, the Count, Sebastián, chorus of countrymen) No. 2. Chorus ¡Torpe! Señora, ¡sosegaos! (the Baroness, chorus of countrymen) No. 2 bis. Cavatina. El arroyo, la enramada (the Baroness, chorus of countrymen) No. 3. María's romance. ¡Ah! Yo me vi en el mundo (María) No. 3 bis. Marquis's romance. Cual brilla el sol (the Marquis, Peralta) No. 3 ter. Trio . Guarde Dios à la niña hermosa (María, the Marquis, Peralta) No. 4. Finale I Su rara hermosura (María, the Baroness, the Marquis, the Count, Peralta, Sebastián, chorus of contrymen) Act II No. 5. Introduction and the "Chu, chu, chu" chorus. Vedle qué pensativo (Sebastián, chorus of countrymen) No. 6. Scene and cavatina. ¡Ja!, ¡ja!, ¡ja! ¡Oh, qué Marqués! (María, the Count, the Baroness) No. 7. Romance. Gracias, fortuna mía (Don Carlos) No. 8. Duo by the piano. Es el desdén acero (María, the Marquis) No. 9. Duo – Finale II. ¿Qué os sucede? (María, Sebastián) Act III No. 10. Introduction and the rouse chorus. Soldados de la ronda (chorus of soldiers) No. 11. Drinking song and duo of the drunks. ¡Brindis! ¡A la fortuna! (Peralta, Sebastián) No. 12. Duo. Guarde Dios al gentil marido (María, the Marquis) No. 13. Finale. ¡Ah! Risueña brilló la aurora (all soloists, chorus of soldiers)
References
External links
Synopsis of El juramento on zarzuela.net A synopsis of El juramento is also available in: Diego Emilio Fernández Álvarez. El juramento (lazarzuela.webcindario.com) El juramento page on Teatro de la Zarzuela site (with a downloadable digital booklet)