Huesca temática

Number 141 - February of 2010Spanish language Principal menu


Gregoria Ciprés

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.


     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".

  Mouse On, otra foto

     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.

§§§§§§§§§§----------------

 Manuel Tomé *   Revista 4 Esquinas. Ana E. Rodrigo Bravo.
** Manuel Tomé Bosqued





  Hay más artículos !!All literary articles of Upper Aragon (Huesca, España)

 Visite Huesca, le sorprenderá ....