presents
Conceived and directed by Maestro Pablo Zinger
An anthology of the best solos, duets, and trios from Spanish and Latin American zarzuelas
March 27- April 5, 2026
CALLBACKseries2026
At Teatro Círculo
64 East 4th Street, NYC
OUR STAFF
José Cheo Oliveras,
Founding Artistic Director
Virginia Louloudes,
Development Director
Edna Lee Figueroa,
Marketing Director / Social Media Manager
James Figueroa,
Financial Manager
Eva Vásquez,
Co-Founder & Educational Program Director
Verónica Caicedo,
Facilities Manager
Caridad del Valle,
‘Abuelito, dime tú’ Program Coordinator /
Resident Stage Manager
Camila Ceschin,
Box Office Manager
Cinzia Meneghello,
Web Designer / Web Master
Mariano de Paco Serrano,
Associate Artistic Director
Dean M. Zayas,
Associate Artistic Director, Emeritus
Pablo Zinger,
Musical Director
Israel Franco-Müller,
Resident Production Designer
Manuel Gómez Crespo,
Technical Production Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eric Rivera, Chair
Special Assistant to the Commissioner/Chief Diversity Officer, NYC Department of Aging
Barbara Matos, Treasurer
Founder & CEO – Socorro Strategies
Paul Marín, Secretary
Founder and CEO, PM Public Relations
José Cheo Oliveras
Founding Artistic Director, Teatro Círculo
Eva Vásquez
York College
Diana Chery-Ramírez
Playwright, Director, Actress, Professor
Rocky Lizardi
Sony Music Entertainment
Fernando Travesí
Executive Director, International Center for Transitional Justice
Rubie M. Alicea
Immigration Attorney – Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP
Laura Aguinaga
Actress, Producer, Writer
MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS...
National Endowment for the Arts
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul
New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment
New York City Council Members Harvey Epstein – District 2, Diana Ayala – District 8, Amanda Farías – District 18, Francisco Moya
– District 21, Tiffany Caban – District 22, Sandy Nurse – District 37, Kayla Santosuosso – District 47
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Daniel S. Goldman, U.S. House of Representatives
Small Business Administration
The Tow Foundation
Howard Gilman Foundation
New York Community Trust
The National Latinx Theater Initiative
The Shubert Foundation
The Emma A. Sheafer Charitable Trust
Miranda Family Fund
The Hispanic Federation
Jeffrey & Paula Gural
The Mid-Atlantic Arts, through USArtists International
Lily Auchincloss Foundation
The Kaplen Brothers Fund
The Cory & Bob Donnalley Charitable Foundation
The Michael Tuch Foundation
The Frederic Coudert Foundation
The Lucille Lortel Foundation
Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation
Con Edison
Bank of America
NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theater
Mosaic Fund
The Tow Charitable Foundation
The Mosaic Network and Fund
The Coalition of Theaters of Color
Consulate General of Spain in New York
For more information on how to make a tax-deductible donation visit:
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.
Lily Auchincloss Foundation
For more information about touring productions contact us at
(845) 662-7742 or at joliveras@teatrocirculo.org
Our rehearsal space and theaters are available for rent at very affordable rates.
Contact us at (347) 967-4765 / vcaicedo@teatrocirculo.org or visit:
presents
Conceived and directed by Maestro Pablo Zinger
March 27- April 5, 2026
CALLBACKseries2026
At Teatro Círculo
An anthology of the best solos, duets, and trios from Spanish and Latin American zarzuelas
Running time: Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. No intermission.
PROGRAM
BARBIERI
Niñas que váis a Granada (Los diamantes de la corona, 1854) – María Brea & Linda Collazo
Yo fui page de un obispo (El barberillo de Lavapiés, 1874) – Juan Hernández
Canción de Paloma (El barberillo de Lavapiés) – María Brea
~
LA GRAN VÍA (Chueca y Valverde, 1884)
Tango de la Menegilda – Linda Collazo
Caballero de Gracia – Juan Hernández
~
LA CORTE DE FARAÓN (Lleó, 1910)
Dúo: Yo soy el casto – Linda Collazo & Juan Hernández
Terceto: Para juzgar y sentenciar – María Brea, Linda Collazo & Juan Hernández
~
LUISA FERNANDA (Moreno Torroba, 1932)
De este apacible rincón de Madrid – Linda Collazo & Juan Hernández
Caballero del alto plumero – María Brea & Juan Hernández
Cállate, corazón – Linda Collazo & Juan Hernández
~
ALMA CRIOLLA (Rafael Hernández, 1933)
Dónde tú irás – María Brea & Juan Hernández
~
MARÍA LA O (Ernesto Lecuona, 1930)
Chancletera soy yo – Linda Collazo
~
DON GIL DE ALCALÁ (Manuel Penella, 1932)
Todas las mañanitas – María Brea & Linda Collazo
~
CECILIA VALDÉS (Gonzalo Roig, 1932)
Salida de Cecilia – María Brea
SINGERS
(In alphabetical order)
MARÍA BREA (soprano)
Stands among the most compelling voices of her generation— Venezuelan American artist whose radiant tone, commanding stage presence, and effortless musicality have established her as one of Venezuela’s most celebrated operatic exports. 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.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, Ms. Brea has appeared on many of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Liceu, David Geffen Hall, David Koch Theater, and Palais Garnier, captivating audiences with her luminous voice and expressive power. Her debut album, Alba Beyond Borders (Lexicon Classics), an evocative exploration of Latin American and Jewish art song with pianist Dror Baitel, marks a major artistic milestone. The recording—now streaming worldwide—has launched an acclaimed U.S. concert tour spanning more than ten cities, earning praise for its originality and emotional depth.
Equally at home in the great operatic repertoire and contemporary works, Ms. Brea’s signature portrayals include Violetta in La Traviata, Euridice in Orfeo ed Euridice, Ana María in Zorro, Micaëla in Carmen, Mimì in La Bohème, Marguerite in Faust, Nedda in Pagliacci, Gilda in Rigoletto, Liù in Turandot, Agrippina, Donna Anna, and Elena in El Barbero de Sevilla—a performance that earned her the Best Musical Actress Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.
She has been featured with renowned companies including Arizona Opera, Opera San José, Opera Maine, West Bay Opera, Opera Tampa, Wolf Trap Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Cultura, New Camerata Opera, Opera in Williamsburg, Village Opera, Hogfish Festival of Portland Maine, Resonance Works, and Opera Essentia, among others.
As an avid oratorio and concert soloist, Ms. Brea has brought her luminous sound to performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” with the Boston Philharmonic and Ann Arbor Symphony, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Tucson Symphony, Haydn’s The Creation, Handel’s Messiah, Orff’s Carmina Burana at Carnegie Hall, and Reinaldo Moya’s Pájaros garabatos with the Jasper Quartet at the Schubert Club, among others. She has appeared with the Phoenix Symphony, Zephyr Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, MidAtlantic Philharmonic, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra, Brooklyn Symphony, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, New England Repertory Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, l’Orchestre Prométhée, and the United Nations Symphony.
A laureate of some of the world’s most prestigious competitions, Ms. Brea represented Venezuela at Operalia, was a finalist in both the Paris Opera Competition and BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and earned the Best Zarzuela Singer Award at the Tenor Viñas Competition in Barcelona. She is also a first prize winner of Giulio Gari Competition, New York Lyric Opera Competition and prize winner Gerda Lissner and Opera Cultura competitions.
Instagram: @mariabreasoprano
Facebook Page: @mariaferbrea
YouTube: @mariabreasoprano
LINDA COLLAZO (mezzo soprano)
Audiences throughout the U.S. have heard Bronx-born Ecuadorian and Puerto Rican Mezzo Soprano Linda Collazo at venues including Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, Lincoln Center, the United Palace Theater, and Repertorio Español, as well as in theaters throughout Italy. Described as having a voice that is “elastic and luxurious…” (Ars Raving Mad).
Linda Collazo’s 2025-26 season includes singing at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium as a soloist with Choirs of America, performing as Dorabella in Così fan tutte with Bronx Opera, performing as Indy in a new opera called To The People Like Us by Jorge Sosa with White Snake Projects, performing a recital with the Savannah Voice Festival, performing in a Zarzuela residency with Pablo Zinger at Teatro Circulo in NYC, and covering the role of Augusta in The Ballad of Baby Doe with Opera North. Her 2023-24 season included covering Carmen in The Opera Next Door’s production of La Carmencita at Lincoln Center and being a Studio Artist at Opera Orlando singing Shepherd Boy in Tosca; Frida (cover), Lupe, and Natalia Trotsky in Frida; Wood Sprite 2 in Rusalka; Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor; and Stepmother in The Juniper Tree. Past engagements include Carmen in La Tragedie de Carmen with Camerata New Jersey, being a soloist at Lincoln Center, being a Vocal Fellow at Aspen Music Festival, and being a young artist with Opera Naples, Sarasota Opera, and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance. Linda has won awards from the Laffont and Gerda Lissner Competitions.
In addition to her operatic career, Ms. Collazo has shown her vocal versatility in her concert, recital, and educational outreach work. She has performed as a soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Alma Dei Creatoris and Requiem, Bernstein’s Songfest and Symphony no. 1: Jeremiah, Yarmolinsky’s The Constitution, Handel’s Messiah, and several new music chamber works with various orchestras and ensembles throughout New York City including the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra, The Grace Chorale, BronX BandA, Ars Musica Chorale, and Bargemusic. Linda has also performed in recitals and galas showcasing Spanish opera, zarzuela, art song, popular song, and baroque music with the Mimesis Ensemble, The Vertical Player Repertory Theater and was highlighted on the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s social media singing Ecuadorian art song for Hispanic Heritage Month in 2021. Additional venues include performing as a soloist at BAM Fisher with the Brooklyn Metro Chamber Orchestra, and Times Square’s Anita’s Way with the New Camerata Opera. Virtually, Ms. Collazo has performed concerts for Princeton University, Queens College, and The Christman Opera Company throughout the course of the 2020 pandemic.
Her other awards include an encouragement award from the Connecticut and New York Districts of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and first place winner in the Bronx Arts Ensemble and Woodmere Competitions. Linda was also a finalist in the Grand Concours Competition, SAS Performing Arts Competition, the Roberto DeSimone Memorial Aria Competition, Canto Latino, and a semi-finalist in the Camerata Bardi International Vocal Competition.
Linda received her Bachelor of Music from The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Ms. Collazo was a full scholarship CUNY Macaulay Honors Scholar, Richard and Mica Hadar Foundation Scholar, and the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Jane and Paul Smaldone Memorial Scholarship, the Helene B. Giudice Award, the Erik Horlick Memorial Award, and The Claire Bartels Freshman Award.
In her spare time, Ms. Collazo enjoys giving back to her community in the South Bronx by teaching voice and piano in her private studio both virtually and in-person. She has been interviewed by BronxNet TV, CBS, and News 12 The Bronx for her work as a performer and educator. Linda’s work has also led her to being named an honoree by the Bronx Borough President for Women’s History Month in 2025.
Instagram: @lindaritza
Facebook Page: @lindacollazomezzo
YouTube: @LaLaLaLindaLove
JUAN HERNÁNDEZ (tenor)
Puerto Rican Tenor 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 US and abroad.
In the 2024–2025 season, he joined Sarasota Opera as part of the Studio Artists Program, performing as Federico in Stiffelio and covering Conte Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia. His recent stage credits included Ferrando in Così fan tutte and Don José in La Carmencita (The Opera Next Door), Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Teatro Nuovo Cover), Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore (Cape Town Opera), and Jerome in Great Moments in Human History (The Opera Next Door). On the concert stage, Hernández appeared as a soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperae solennes de confessore with Musica Viva NY, Bach’s St. John Passion with The Opera Next Door, and Mozart’s Requiem with the Oratorio Singers of Westfield. He was a 2025 Sarasota Opera Studio Artist, 2024 Teatro Nuovo Resident Artist, and alumnus of the Palm Beach Opera Bailey Apprentice Program. Mr. Hernández’s honors included the MOLC Puerto Rico District Encouragement Award (2019, 2022), Revelación Masculina (2021), and First Place at the NATS NYC District Competition (2019).
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, he continued his training in Vocal Performance at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. Juan is currently a voice student of Raymon Geis.
Instagram: @juan_hernandez_tenor
YouTube: @JuanHernandez-ri9xz
CREATIVE TEAM AND CREW
PABLO ZINGER (Creator, Director, Pianist, Narrator, Costume & Props Coordinator)
Uruguayan-born New Yorker Pablo Zinger 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.
He accompanied Plácido Domingo at Washington’s Constitution Hall, conducted for Paquito D’Rivera’s Carnegie Hall 50th. Anniversary Concert and the Moscow première of Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires, narrated Piazzolla’s Pueblo joven at Tokyo’s Opera City and accompanied legendary diva Sarita Montiel in NYC.
He toured for ten years with the Valencia-based Zinger Septet and has written for The New York Times, Opera News, and lectured for The New York Philharmonic.
He has written the Latin-Jewish tango musical Bela, and Las tentaciones de González (Tiene la muerte atada), premièred in 1999 to a NY Times rave. His show Bésame mucho at Repertorio Español in NY, won HOLA and ACE awards.
He has been called The King of Zarzuela by Opera News magazine and was Musical Director of the Patty Disney Zarzuela Series at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM (2004-2011).
Most recently, he conducted María de Buenos Aires with Opera San Antonio and Florentine Opera (Milwaukee) and directed a 2-week workshop Cantemos zarzuela with Opera San Antonio and CMI.
His CD’s include Tango apasionado with Astor Piazzolla, Chamber Music from the South and The Clarinetist, with Paquito D’Rivera, Las puertas de la mañana (songs of Carlos Guastavino) and two albums of music by Carlos Suriñach with Bronx Arts Ensemble.
Mr. Zinger has conducted the Costa Rica National Symphony, Simón Bolívar Orchestra (Venezuela), Maribor Philharmonic (Slovenia), Montevideo Philharmonic and Montevideo Pro Opera (Uruguay) and Bronx Arts Ensemble with Jazz greats Tito Puente, Dave Valentin, Néstor Torres and John Faddis.
ISRAEL FRANCO-MÜLLER (Lighting Designer)
Production Manager and Set, Lighting & Costume Designer. International theatre designer whose works have been seen in: Alcalá and Almagro’s Classical Theater Festival in Spain 2022, Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival in Scotland, Cuba, Mexico, among other countries. Awards: Outstanding Costume Design- ‘Fuente Ovejuna’ (Teatro Círculo, ATI 2023), Outstanding Production Designer- ‘El caballero de Olmedo’ (Teatro Círculo, HOLA 2018), Best Set and Costume Design- ‘El burlador de Sevilla’ (Teatro Círculo, ATI 2019). Franco-Müller holds a Ph.D. in Theater Design and Technical Production from the Complutense University of Madrid.
CARIDAD DEL VALLE (Stage Manager)
Has a B.A. in Dramatic Arts from the University of Puerto Rico. Her work as an artist includes acting, writing, production and stage management with theater companies like Teatro Círculo, Repertorio Español and Boundless Theatre Company. Among the numerous plays in which she has participated are La casa de Bernarda Alba, Virtuous Burglar, Yo no soy Lupita and Primavera ya no hay más (of her authorship-recently staged at Teatro Círculo). She has participated in important international festivals in countries such as Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the US. She has also received various recognitions and prestigious awards for her work as an actor and stage manager, from institutions like HOLA, ACE, ATI, LATA & ARTE. Between 2005 and 2006 she worked on Puerto Rican television on the programs Un día antes and De mujeres. In the cinema, she has worked as an actor and producer; among her film projects are: It is, Silent Dinner, Ping and Who Cares About What? In 2018, she founded her company Few Pennies Theatrical. With the intention of exploring new artistic horizons.
Instagram: @carodelvalle
Graphic Design: Edna Lee Figueroa
MI CASA ES TU CASA
Teatro Círculo’s staff created an initiative called Mi casa es tu casa, and thanks to our wonderful supporters at the Howard Gilman Foundation, the Mosaic Network and Fund, and City Council Member Harvey Epstein we are now able to offer $10 tickets for Saturday night performances, host parties and post-show events.
We continue our Mi casa es tu casa with FIESTA de la ZARZUELA.
“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.” – Maestro Pablo Zinger
~
Thanks to Mi casa es tu casa, we have these special events:
Opening Night Party – Friday, March 27th at 7 PM following the performance with the director and the artists.
$10 Tickets on Saturdays, March 28th and April 4th at 7 PM, using code ACCESS.
Mini singing classes with Maestro Pablo Zinger following Sunday, March 29th and Sunday, April 5th performances.
Teatro Círculo thanks YOU for your continuous support through these 31 years!