She
belongs to an
exceptional jot-singers generation.
She was born in the year 1914 in Lúsera,
a small town summoned in the mountain of Guara; she soon would
transfer her residence to Huesca. She then was twelve years
old when her mother, after a trip to Bordeaux, decided that the future
for the family was not so much in the works of the field like in the
capital. In 1927 a young Gregoria settled in the San Martin
street where her mother had bought a house that stayed until not so
much time ago.
Once in Huesca, she began to
work taking care of children in the San Lorenzo Inn, because
the family economy needed of her contribution. Her spontaneous songs
woke up the admiration of the proprietors of the inn who seriously
encouraged her to begin her artistic faculty. Then, the Camila
Gracia name sounded with force in Huesca already, so that
she decided to speak with her to the object that they should advise
her and so, was introduced to Fidel Seral so that him, if considered
it opportune, trained her in the art of the jota. A little
time later, Camila Gracia and Gregoria Ciprés
began an artistic union that walked at the same time of their great
friendship. Gregoria was endowed with a clear treble voice
and Camila Gracia, six years older, was an exceptional contralto.
Both formed a duet that achieved the fame in the years 1930, when
they recorded some disks for Odeón. Camila Gracia won
the official prize in the years 1930 and 1932, as long as Gregoria
Ciprés reached a second prize after her partner.
Gregoria, "The Ciprés"
like they called her, used to sing styles of difficult execution and
in very high tones, demonstrating so the great tessitura and excellent
qualities of her voice. After multiple tests, she was presented to
the public of Huesca in a competition that took place in the
Navarrese square, in which obtained the first prize. From that first
performance until her retreat after Spanish Civilian War, hardly lapsed
fifteen years. A brief but intense career full with successes and
brilliant performances. In so short space, she acted for all Spain,
but without a doubt the performance that she remembered with more
affection is the one that took place in 1931 during the competition
organized by the House of Aragon in Madrid. There, in
the Price Theater, the first prize was granted her for a jury of which
was selfsame Miguel Fleta who gave her the reward that supposed
the definitive push to her incipient career.
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The years that continued, were of a
hard work because Gregoria was forced to travel constantly
having contracts signed with a year of advance. From among her countless
tours highlight, for the harvested success, the trip carried out by
Spain, Portugal and France in company of Camila and the group
Alma Aragonesa, of Pepe Esteso. Among tours, she returned
to Huesca, where used to act in the Bull Ring, the square of
Navarrese and, mainly, in the serenades that were carried out with
reason of San Lorenzo's parties. On a cart she covered whole
city traveled until arriving to the doors of the newspaper The Earth,
located in the Villahermosa street, place where she used to
congregate the crowd that filled the Porches while waiting
for her arrival to listen her to sing.
Gregoria Ciprés married
Rafael Fidalgo, a military man with whom she had four children.
The marriage moved to Valencia, where she would still act in
the Aragonese center of this capital. Meanwhile, in Huesca,
Fidel Seral died after having taught jot in Madrid and
Camila Gracia caught his relief as teaching. She directed the
Official School of Jot in Huesca, up to her death in 1988.
Gregoria Ciprés and her husband
came to retire to Huesca. She was widowed but "continued feeling
and living the "jot" that motivated her very much", a nephew
of her explained who highlighted that she maintained the memories
of "an intense, but brief trajectory".
The historical jot-singer of Huesca,
Gregoria Ciprés, died in this city February 14 of 2006,
89 years old, being interred in that capital after the funeral that
was celebrated at the 11.30 hours in San José's parish, the
neighborhood in which lived and that a homage had paid tribute her.
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