The Nightingale of the Zarzuela
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Copyright © 2008 Santa Rosa Science and Technology High School, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna. All rights reserved.
FEATURES
Known for its influencial history, great art and magnificent culture, the City of Santa Rosa has been named as the Cultural and Heritage Mecca. Its arts encompasses literature, visual arts and the performing arts, including music and dance. Its rich culture is mainly all about the distinctively human activities and values which show how profound Santa Rosa is.
Maria Carpena
:Nightingale of Zarzuela
(1887-1915)
Maria Carpena was one of the prominent singers and actresses of the early century, regarded as the "Nightingale" of Zarzuela during the peak of her career, beauty and fame. Being the Queen of Zarzuela, Maria Carpena has amused the Filipino people because of her unsurpassed singing ability. She became the very first Filipino recording artist of Victor Recording Company in America.
She was born in Santa Rosa, one of the eight children of Mr. Camilo Carpena and Ms. Maria Evangelista. She started as a chorale member in the church. She was sent to Colegio de Santa Rosa where she took a music course under the supervision of the well-known compositors, Fullgencio Tolentino and Salvina Fornari.
She first appeared in Teatro Zorillo and not long after she became an official actress of Zarzuela under the direction of Cirilo Samonte. She was renounced by her father because of her involvement in Zarzuela. Maria Carpena continued and was given a scholarship at Colegio de Santa Rosa as a help of the nuns there. To express her gratitude, she served and helped the nuns in sewing and singing.
When she left the school, she joined the Grab Zarzuela Tagala of Severino Reyes, also known as "Lola Basyang" and in the Orient Company, she became the star in major productions including "Walang Sugat", "Minda Mora", Lukso ng Dugo" and in "La Confianza Mata al Hombre".
As a Victor Recording Artist, Maria Carpena recorded her solos and duets with Victorino Carrion with the accompaniment of Molina Orchestra. Among her solos were "Ang Mga Ibon" valse; "Ang Babaeng Naulol" danza; "Ave Maria"; "Ang Maya" of Estela; "Ang Geisha" from the zarzuela La Venta de Filipinas al Japon. Among her duets were "Maura y Felix" from the zarzuela Minda Mora; "Torcuato y Filotea" from Ang Pag-aasawa ni San Pedro; "Yday y Timo" from the operetta Veni Vidi Vici; "Tinang y Luis" from Lukso ng Dugo.
She had two children with her late spouse, Jose Alcantara. When she knew that Jose died, she was still on stage. But then, ever as professional, she finished her number before she mourned her husband's death.
Maria Carpena poured herself to her profession and neglected her own health. As a result, she died of appendicitis at San Juan de Dios Hospital on March 08, 1915. She was only 28 years old then.
Disappointing, but except a small street in Quiapo, which was named after her, Maria Carpena was forgotten by today's society.
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