We have seen him in Les Miserables as Enjolras, in The Phantom of the Opera as Monsieur André and in We’re on the Air…..

The R is the initial of the first part of my compound family name which is Ruiz del Portal.  And, since my father was called Enrique del Portal for artistic purposes I wanted to differentiate mine from his and thus, use Enrique R. del Portal.

Influence is inevitable as well as comparison, in spite of the age difference.  Consider that my first memories are related to the theatre and I grew up watching my father at work.  Later, our life brought us apart. In any case, he has been my inspiration and reference for many of my professional decisions.

That’s difficult.... I think that each has their moment both as a spectator or as an artist.  Within the characteristics where I fit in, I like to change my luck whenever possible.

In what musical where you did not participate would you have liked to have that part?

One of my favorites: Man of La Mancha.  Other obligations did not allow me to be in the production in Madrid and I dream that one day I will be able to sing the Impossible Dream.

Honestly, I pray I can stay where I am.  Considering the times, I prefer to stay in the middle, working with my present theatre companies.  I confide that the younger ones will continue 10 years from now and that’s where we will be.

You participated in some of the most important musicals in the history of Spanish theater such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera.  Which is your best experience?  Do you prefer less important musicals? Is it as you expected?

I have beautiful memories and am proud to have been part of Les Miserables.  I think it was the real step that opened the doors of musicals in Spain.  The last big production, Evita, 9 years before, and as from 1994, the year when Les Miserables ended, the ship went afloat.  With respect to the Phantom of the Opera, there was a sensation of a franchise with no real creation.  I recall an anecdote upon asking a director why I was doing a certain movement, and he replied that a man in London did it 16 years before……

This is the problem arising in the musicals in Spain and worst of all is that the audience is starting to believe that the show is not good if it doesn’t cost millions and has laser beams.  We have to understand that the theatre is a man in a black box telling you the truth.  Anything else enriches it, but we cannot build a house from the roof.

In this sense, it has been very gratifying to have shows like “We’re on the Air” , a Spanish production 100% that was 8 months running and 3 on tour.  Or perform in Madrid theatre-cafes doing Nights of Broadway, an idea taken from me by Luis Ramirez.

Picture from the last scene in Les Miserables - Madrid 1992.  We can see clearly Mr. Pedro Ruy Blas as Valjean, Luisa Torres as Cosette & Margartia Marban as Eponine, aside from our interviewed Enjolras.

How do you prepare yourself for the part?

Don’t try to search the tool box.......

"Prima Donna" scene from The Phantom of the Opera in Madrid, 2004.

A recommendation for the coming generations?

To study, prepare themselves, read and to go as much as possible to the theatre and most of all, to enjoy themselves.

We normally coincide in auditions and I have a close relationship with some and have good memories of all of them. We should not forget our international star, Carlos Marin!

I would love that Les Miserables could be produced again and would kill to do Enjolras or maybe….. Jean Valjen?

What is the role of Enjolras like?  Does it require high notes?

Not as high as it seems.  I would like to recall that it was not above La flat or a La natural , but it has a special shine that gives  that sensation that one is singing very high…

No. I think there are many.  It is a tradition that is unfortunately interrupted by the Civil War and lives lightly after the war.  It is called zarzuelas…and in Spain if we had taken care of it during the last 70 years, we now would have had musical dramas about wars, or Madrid lifestyle or maybe about the life of Luis Candelas or maybe the journalists in Spanish Sahara.

I don’t think so for one simple reason.  They are created there and here they buy the design, the franchise and have no creativity.  Except maybe for Man of La Mancha or My Fair Lady.