The zarzuela ranges from the lightest and shortest cabaret-like pieces to the heaviest, most demanding operatic works.

Teatro Círculo, one of New York City’s leading Spanish-language theatre companies – known for its creative staging of classical and contemporary works – including singing and dance forms, presents FIESTA de la ZARZUELA conceived and directed by Maestro Pablo Zinger. Treat yourself and get ready for a fun and splendid experience!

Called “The King of Zarzuela” by The Metropolitan Opera’s Opera News, Teatro Círculo’s musical director and considered the pre-eminent conductor of zarzuela in the United States, Pablo Zinger, will also provide the live piano accompaniment. “I am delighted to bring back this 460-plus-year-old Spanish musical theater genre that unites our diverse Spanish-speaking population around superb singing, sparkling humor and drama. Zarzuela has been absent from NYC stages for too long. It’s time for us to bring it back with quality and joy,” explained Maestro Zinger.

For this reason, Teatro Círculo is calling back zarzuela as part of its CALLBACKseries2026 with FIESTA de la ZARZUELA, an anthology of the best solos, duets, and trios from Spanish and Latin American zarzuelas, including ‘El barberillo de Lavapiés’ (Barbieri, 1874), ‘La gran vía’ (Chueca and Valverde, 1884), ‘La corte de Faraón’ (Lleó, 1910), ‘Luisa Fernanda’ (Moreno Torroba, 1932), ‘Alma criolla’ (Rafael Hernández, Puerto Rico), ‘María la O’ (Ernesto Lecuona, Cuba, 1930) and ‘Cecilia Valdés’ (Gonzalo Roig, Cuba, 1932) among others.

Maestro Pablo Zinger is a Uruguayan-born New Yorker and is widely acclaimed as a conductor, pianist, composer, arranger, writer, teacher, lecturer and narrator, specializing on Astor Piazzolla, tango, Spanish zarzuela, and Latin American music. In FIESTA de la ZARZUELA he will collaborate with three outstanding operatic artists: Venezuelan American soprano María Brea, Bronx-born Ecuadorian Puerto Rican mezzo soprano Linda Collazo and Puerto Rican tenor Juan Hernández.

María Brea stands among the most compelling voices of her generation. A graduate of The Juilliard School, she has appeared on many of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, among others, captivating audiences with her luminous voice and expressive power. Praised by OperaWire as a “very classy Venezuelan soprano,” “versatile soprano,” and “luxurious soprano,” Brea’s artistry embodies both refinement and fire, shaping her for an international career of growing distinction.

Linda Collazo has been described as having a voice that is “elastic and luxurious…” (Ars Raving Mad), and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, Lincoln Center, among others, as well as in theaters throughout Italy. She received her Bachelor of Music from The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College and was a full scholarship CUNY Macaulay Honors Scholar and Richard and Mica Hadar Foundation Scholar. In addition to her operatic career, Collazo has showcased her vocal versatility in her concert, recital, and educational outreach work.

Juan Hernández began his professional singing career with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra in 2012 and has since been part of many local and international productions in the United States and abroad. In the 2022 season, he joined Cape Town Opera in the role of Nemorino in their touring production of L’elisir D’amore for his South African debut. He began his Music Studies at the Escuela libre de música Ernesto Ramos Antonini, Alma Mater of some of the most recognized Puerto Rican artists. After graduating with Honors, Hernández continued his training in Vocal Performance at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music.

“Everybody has the ability to sing,” says José Cheo Oliveras, Founding Artistic Director of Teatro Círculo, “That’s why as part of our audience engagement events this year, we will offer mini singing classes after the Sunday performances, in which Maestro Pablo Zinger will direct our audience members in a collective singing of segments of the show.”

Thanks to Howard Gilman Foundation, The Mosaic Network and Fund, and City Council Member Harvey Epstein Teatro Círculo will have a Special Community Opening Night Party on Friday March 27 at 7 PM and subsidized $10 tickets for only Saturday night performances using code ACCESS.

FIESTA de la ZARZUELA conceived and directed by Pablo Zinger, with production design by Israel Franco-Müller, and with stage manager Caridad del Valle will have 7 performances, March 27 to April 5, 2026 at Teatro Círculo’s 64 East 4th Street Mainstage Theater in Manhattan. ADA Accessible.

FIESTA de la ZARZUELA is part of Teatro Fest NYC 2026, a powerful collaboration among the leading and most prestigious Latino theater companies in New York City, a festival of the Alliance of Teatros Latinos New York presented in March and April at Iati Theater, ID Studio Theater NYC, INTAR, The People’s Theatre, Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Repertorio Español, Teatro LATEA, Teatro SEA, Thalia Spanish Theatre, and Teatro Círculo.

FIESTA de la ZARZUELA is made possible, in part, by the generous support of The Coalition of Theaters of Color and Consulate General of Spain in New York, and through funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Houchul and the New York State Legislature, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, City Council Member Harvey Epstein, Howard Gilman Foundation, National Latinx Theater Initiative, Shubert Foundation, Cory & Bob Donnalley Charitable Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Coudert Foundation, Lucille Lortel Foundation, the Miranda Family Fund, and The Mosaic Network and Fund.