Goya Musical Premieres at Banderas's Málaga Theater

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) lived during a pivotal time, bridging the 18th and 19th centuries. He was not just a remarkable observer of a turbulent Spain, but his genius captured the essence of a contradictory era: cruel yet humanist, enlightened yet reactionary, liberal yet oppressive. Goya was a chronicler whose work transcended his own time, depicting universal aspects of the human condition. Because of this timeless quality, his art remains relevant whether we consider 1808, 1950, or 2025.

This timelessness, his extraordinary ability to show how "the sleep of reason produces monsters," means that the Aragonese painter, who died in Bordeaux, continues to speak to us today. One example of this ongoing conversation is the premiere of Goya. The Musical Work of a Legend, which opened on February 12th at Antonio Banderas's Teatro del Soho in Málaga.

The musical features an original script by actor and director Ignasi Vidal. It also has a strong Canarian influence: Tom Vega from Gran Canaria wrote the music and lyrics for this Showprime production, and Juan José Cuco Afonso from Tenerife is the artistic director.

"While Spanish history is clearly a big part of it," Afonso told DIARIO DE AVISOS, "our main goal is to create a fictional story that explores Goya's life, his desires, obsessions, struggles, and passions."

"Goya transformed art," the Canarian director stressed. "After him, painting was seen in a new light. To achieve this, he had to challenge the academic establishment, censorship, traditional styles, ingrained habits, and the trends of his era. He was a rebel who was almost forgotten, but history eventually recognized his true worth."

Following its premiere at Antonio Banderas's theater, the musical will embark on a four-month tour across Spain.

Javier Godino plays Goya, supported by a cast including Clara Alvarado (Duchess of Alba), Leo Rivera (Godoy), Silvia Luchetti (María Luisa de Parma), Paco Morales (Ceán Bermúdez), Diego Molero (Grand Inquisitor), and Germán Torres (Francisco Bayeu). A unique addition is the historical figure of Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), who appears on stage, called forth across time.

"Two centuries separate these painters, yet Velázquez was always crucial to Goya's work," explains the musical's introductory text. "Goya not only copied Velázquez's paintings to master technique but also used them as inspiration for his own creations. The most famous example is Velázquez's self-portrait in Las Meninas, which influenced Goya's self-portrait in The Family of Charles IV."

To highlight this artistic connection, the musical shows Goya copying Las Meninas and Velázquez's figure onto his canvas at the start of the show. At this moment, Velázquez comes to life and appears to Goya. Velázquez then guides Goya through his story, a magical device that helps the audience understand Goya's inner world, his doubts, conflicts, and his personal drive to achieve lasting fame, becoming a universal Spanish artist just like his great mentor.

The music is as central as the story itself. The production includes 24 original songs, performed live by singers accompanied by an orchestra. Showprime producers describe it as "a show designed to move and entertain, far from a classical piece, where rhythm, passion, and humor are woven into every scene."

Gran Canarian composer Tom Vega is responsible for the music and lyrics of the songs in Goya.

The musical's presentation describes Goya. The Musical Work of a Legend as telling "the passionate life of Francisco de Goya, a universal genius caught between power and censorship, love and politics, in a turbulent Spain balancing the Inquisition with enlightened modernity." They explain that the "plot, full of emotion, dramatic twists, and comedy," offers audiences a glimpse into a human and complex Goya. His relationships with figures like the Duchess of Alba, Godoy, Ceán Bermúdez, Bayeu, and Queen María Luisa unveil a world of forbidden passions, intrigues, and ideological conflicts.

Ignasi Vidal, an actor, singer, and playwright, has a long career in theater, film, and television. For twenty years, he has starred in numerous musicals. In 2015, he made his debut as a director and writer with the play El plan, which later inspired the 2019 film of the same name, directed by Polo Menárguez and starring Antonio de la Torre, Raúl Arévalo, and Chema del Barco. Vidal also directed the musical Antoine (2020), which won the Max Award for Best Revelation Show in 2021. This musical explored the life and work of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince. His directing credits also include adaptations of classic novels for the stage, such as The Physician (based on Noah Gordon's novel) and The Pillars of the Earth (based on Ken Follett's). Last year, he premiered Roca Negra, a play he wrote and directed, co-starring Juanjo Puigcorbé and María Adamuz.

"This project is so significant," Juan José Afonso remarked, "it's even cost me some sleep! We're all incredibly excited about the premiere at the Teatro del Soho and the upcoming four-month tour across Spain, which will include Zaragoza, Goya's birthplace." He added, "We don't have dates for the Canary Islands yet, but Tom Vega and I, especially, would love to bring the show there."