Today’s
Enlightening Entertainment
will be presented
in Spanish,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Italian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Greetings, vibrant viewers,
and welcome to
Enlightening Entertainment.
We invite you
to join us today
on a journey through
the amazing pageantry
on the theatrical stage
of Paraguay’s zarzuela
as we learn more
about the country’s
lovely cultural traditions.
Paraguay has a rich,
musical history marked by
distinctive genres
such as Guarania,
Paraguayan polka,
popular songs,
and zarzuela.
The zarzuela is
a lively musical genre
that blends classical opera
with drama, dialogue,
folk songs and folk dances.
With inspiration
from Spain’s zarzuela,
the renowned
Paraguayan composer,
Juan Carlos Moreno
González, created
the Paraguayan zarzuela
by infusing it with
the colorful traditions
of his homeland.
His landmark achievement
in this art form
was the magnificent
musical entitled,
“The Weaver of Ñanduti.”
It is the first
Paraguayan zarzuela –
and it was born
from the idea
of two great musicians,
a musician and scholar
of Paraguay, Juan Carlos
Moreno Gonzalez
and Frutos Panes.
They had the idea
to make the play.
It's like an operetta,
but a traditional one
with all the customs
from Paraguay.
It is a very beautiful piece,
paramount in our
Paraguayan zarzuela
because it was the first
Paraguayan zarzuela
put on stage in Asunción.
This piece was created
during the 1830s,
the time of the first
constitutional president
in Paraguay,
Don Carlos Antonio López,
and so it contrasts
between the rural area
of that time and
the society of the city,
that difference
has always existed,
and it emphasizes it…
in the traditions of that time,
in that place, Itaguá –
one of the most beautiful
cities we have in Paraguay
with its wonderful craft,
the ñanduti.
Ñanduti is the name
of an embroidery native
to the city of Itaguá,
which is known
for its beautiful lace.
In “The Weaver
of Ñandutí,”
the splendid art and craft
of Paraguay is celebrated
in the charming story
of the star-crossed paths
of a simple weaver
and an aristocrat.
The main character in
this Paraguayan zarzuela
is the role of
“The Weaver of Ñanduti,”
named Rosalia.
Rosalia is a country girl,
a very humble girl,
who embroiders ñanduti
and who falls in love
with a city dweller,
a person from high society.
It’s a fairly simple plot,
with beautiful
Paraguayan songs,
guarañas and polkas.
Gonzalo, let’s say
he is the connection
between what would be
the aristocracy of that time
and the peasantry;
he is the son of a tycoon.
He falls in love
with Rosalia,
a peasant girl in Itaguá.
That triumph
at the end of the story,
actually also represents
somewhat the union
between the city
and the countryside.
Oh my beautiful weaver
Oh my handsome gentleman
My heart adores you
If it is true what you say,
I could believe you,
if yesterday in front of me
you said no.
Today I must not continue,
nor tomorrow
will be today,
what once could be
every immortal heart.
Oh my beautiful weaver
Is your life a ñanduti
that changes
and gets colored like the
iridescent hummingbird,
that changes
and gets colored like the
iridescent hummingbird?
In a grand production
with a cast of
150 stellar artists,
Extencion
Cultural UniNorte;
once again brought to life
the heart touching music
and verses of composer
Juan Carlos Moreno
Gonzalez and
librettist Frutos Panes in
“The Weaver of Ñandutí.”
What part of the work
impresses you most?
The musical achievement
of Moreno Gonzalez
in immersing
with the Paraguayan spirit
and to express
through his music
what we truly feel.
There is a philosophy of
spiritual transcendence,
for example,
which is embedded
in the Guarani language.
She sings a guaraña song
which is called
“My Destiny.”
It is one of the
most beautiful guarañas.
“My destiny is always
to sing like birds
in my Itaguá, my Itaguá.
It's my destiny
to fly forever, remaining
not here nor there,
not here nor there.
The weaver of ñandutí
will I ever be all my life,
my life.
Never ask for
dreams of love
if they do not love you,
my sweetheart,
my sweetheart.”
The zarzuela is enhanced
by diverse and numerous
supporting characters
as well who also must
seek their own happiness,
truth and freedom —
values that are cherished
by all people.
The beautiful melodies
and lyrics of
“The Weaver of Ñandutí”
reveal the inner beauty and
strength of Paraguayans,
who are deeply proud of
their cultural legacy.
Well,
my character is Miguel.
He would be the voice
of the people, which is
basically the neighborhood,
the city, yes.
He is the doctor,
the lawyer, the handyman,
a complete character.
Miguelito’s main objective
is to share the Guarani
culture with the world
because our country
is a bilingual country,
which means, that
we speak two languages,
and both are an inseparable
part of our culture.
So what Miguelito
tries to emphasize
is the importance of
not forgetting our roots,
not forgetting that
we have a very rich culture.
Pilar was tied down
by everything,
all the materialism
of society at that time
in the capital, Asunción.
So when she gets to
the countryside,
she found a world
entirely free and
that's what attracted Pilar,
who finally ends up
staying to live her life
in the countryside, yes.
“I am loving
the country life,
listening to the birds
sing early,
marching to the stream,
barefoot and happy,
in search of water
and a gentle young man.”
Each human must choose
her destiny,
the right way of life
for her, because Pilar had
an arranged marriage,
arranged by the society,
her family,
boyfriend´s family
and her own family, yes.
So, then this is to see
what is the right path for us,
choosing, of course,
the proper and correct way
of doing things.
I am the weaver,
the flower of Itaguá, who
seeks and adores anxiety
because of you;
the suave man
recounted a thousand
kinds of love to me,
but soon, very soon,
the unfaithful one
left me alone.
Perhaps friends
will be able to tell me,
where, where is that man?
They will tell him
she’s here,
they will tell him,
the woman that
he so soon forgot, is here.
They will tell him
she’s here,
They will tell him
she is here,
they will tell him
of the flower he left behind.
As a musical,
“The Weaver of Ñandutí”
brings together all aspects
of performing arts in
a mesmerizing showcase
of talent, drama, comedy,
poetic verses,
beautiful music,
vivid dances, colorful
costumes, as well as
unique characteristics
of Paraguayan traditions.
It is a very rich play; it is
a work of traditionalism;
it has different genres,
it has our traditions,
our dances;
it has comedic parts,
it has comedic scenes,
dramatic scenes, romance,
until in the end then,
love wins,
which is the best, isn't it?
I believe
“The Weaver of Ñandutí”
teaches a lot about
the culture of our country,
knowing that
we have something
linked with our ancestors,
and I think we have to
value, as a country,
that we have a rich culture
in music, in art,
in our own language,
in our own beauty,
fauna and flora.
I think
that supporting culture
is very important because
it is somehow part of
our identity as a country,
and to represent
a large group of people is
very satisfying, no matter
at what level it is done.
It is very rewarding.
Here you are, sir, this is
the song of the ñandutí,
with dreams of my love,
for you I weave them.
You answer no,
you answer yes;
do you want
to buy this nice ñandutí?
Here's the bright red
of trembling passion,
that makes us her captive
and steals from us reason.
Here you have the blue
that renews our faith,
in a distant youth,
the love of a woman.
Perhaps the first love,
perhaps she never
kissed him, and
that remained in her life
as a fresh spring.
Here you have hope,
don’t you like it, sir?
Continuing with
this fragile life,
hope is honor,
not what our
ingenious heart dreams up,
which teaches us
that to dream is the best.
Here you are, sir,
this song of the ñandutí,
with dreams of my love,
for you I weave them.
You answer no,
you answer yes;
do you want
to buy this nice ñandutí?
Sir, do you want to buy
this beautiful ñandutí?
With dreams of my love...
We thank
all the wonderfully
talented cast and crew of
“The Weaver of Ñandutí”
for sharing the rich
and vibrant heritage
of Paraguay
through this zarzuela.
Blessed be
your continued endeavors
in beautifying the world
through your artistic gifts.
For more information
about Paraguay’s
Extencion
Cultural UniNorte,
Universidad del Norte,
please visit:
Thank you for your
company today for
Enlightening Entertainment.
Coming next is
Words of Wisdom,
right after
Noteworthy News,
here on
Supreme Master Television.
May your life be filled
with songs of happiness,
peace and divine love.
HOST:
Paraguay has a rich, musical history marked by distinctive genres such as Guarania,
Paraguayan polka, popular songs, and zarzuela. The zarzuela is a lively musical genre
that blends classical opera with drama, dialogue, folk songs and folk dances. With inspiration from Spain’s zarzuela, the renowned Paraguayan composer, Juan Carlos Moreno González, created
the Paraguayan zarzuela by infusing it with the colorful traditions of his homeland.
His landmark achievement in this art form was the magnificent musical entitled,
『The Weaver of Ñanduti.』
(f):
It is the first Paraguayan zarzuela – and it was born from the idea of two great musicians, a musician and scholar of Paraguay, Juan Carlos Moreno Gonzalez and Frutos Panes. They had the idea to make the play. It's like an operetta, but a traditional one with all the customs from Paraguay.