International interest in new book

13-August-2002

New York's Metropolitan Opera and the BBC's classical music program are among the international organisations that have requested review copies of a world-first book to be launched at the University of Wollongong tomorrow (Wednesday 14 August).

Retired professor Dr Vincent Cincotta will launch his sixth book - Zarzuela - The Spanish Lyric Theatre: A Complete Reference -- the world's first English language reference book on Spanish musical theatre.

The genre became popular in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, after Spanish ballet and flamenco dance companies visited New York, and its popularity has endured. Dr Cincotta was exposed to Zarzuela in New York, where he was born, lived, studied and taught until he came to Australia in 1977 to lecture in Italian and Spanish at the University of Wollongong's Department of European Languages.

He retired from the University in 1995 to concentrate on research projects, and was made a Fellow of the University in recognition for his enormous contribution over 18 years.

During his half century of passion for the Zarzuela, which he describes as "the musical theatre of Spain -- their equivalent of My Fair Lady and West Side Story", he has built up a vast wealth of knowledge and materials. In 1995 he was instrumental in bringing to Australia the Antologia de la Zarzuela company for 14 performances at the Sydney Opera House.

Dr Cincotta said a great deal of international interest had been shown in the book, both by prominent industry organisations such as New York's Metropolitan Opera and the BBC who wanted review copies for their magazines, but also by many universities across the United States, where Spanish is the second language, and Graduate Schools in Spanish language and culture are common.

The 766-page book is published by the University of Wollongong Press.

MEDIA ARE INVITED to attend the launch from 5.30-7.30pm, Wednesday 14 August 2002, at the Creative Arts Theatre, Faculty of Creative Arts (Room 107 in Building 25), at the University of Wollongong.
Dr Cincotta can also be contacted for interviews during the day on 4229 9068.