Ruth Iniesta made history at the Teatro de la Zarzuela on April 12 performing an encore during the performance of Barbieri’s “Jugar con Fuego.”

Iniesta, who is portraying the role of Leonor/Duquesa de Medina, received great acclaim for her interpretation  and great enthusiasm from the audience. According to a press release, rarely has the Teatro de la Zarzuela seen an encore.

Speaking to OperaWire regarding the Zarzuela, Iniesta said, “Vocally, the high point is in the romanza of the third act, “Un tiempo fué,” where the phrasing is more demanding, making it one of my favorite parts. Also, the duet in the first act, where she almost confesses her identity but decides to continue playing at being someone else.”

She added, “At its premiere, it was a watershed moment for the zarzuela genre and a huge box office success. Its music is elegant and vibrant. This time, the plot remains the same, but it’s set in the present day, abandoning the original recited verse.”

Here she is singing the famed Romanza: