César San Martín in Granados rarity Goyescas

César San Martín

Spanish barihunk César San Martín is performing Ozias in Enrique Granados' rarely performed Goyescas under the baton of Placido Domingo. The opera is being performed as part of a double-bill with Puccini's Gianni Schicchi.

The opera premiered on January 28, 1916 at the Metropolitan Opera after its scheduled debut at the Paris Opéra was prevented by World War I. Goyescas was the first opera to be performed at the Met in Spanish and was paired with Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.

Goyescas is based on a series of six paintings from Francisco Goya’s early career, inspired by the stereotypical young men and women of the majismo movement. These majos and majas are known for their bohemian attitude and soft spot for finery. The opening scene is directly based on his 1791 painting "El Pelele," painted for Charles IV of Spain to hang in his textile mill, although the painting implies a satire of the monarch’s popularity.

César San Martín made his professional debut in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Teatro Real in 2008. He has performed numerous zarzuela roles with the company, as well as Belcore in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, the title role of Mozart's Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and Malatesta in Donizetti's Don Pasquale.

Performances run from June 30-July 12 and tickets and additional cast information are available online.  

Listen to César San Martín sing Masino's aria from La Vera Costanza HERE.