In Tenerife, the opera "Yerma" with a swimming pool on stage was shown for the first time in Europe.
The Auditorio de Tenerife hosted the European premiere of the opera "Yerma" by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, creating a pool with 20,000 liters of water on stage to emphasize the work's ecological subtext.
On Thursday, the opera "Yerma" was shown for the first time in Europe at the Auditorio de Tenerife. It is a work by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, based on the play by Federico García Lorca. Performances will take place on October 14, 16, 17 and 18.
The presentation was attended by: José Carlos Acha (responsible for culture on the island), Cristóbal de la Rosa (head of cultural innovation in the regional government), José Luis Rivero (artistic director of the theater), Paco Azorín (director) and Berna Perles (soprano, representing the actors). The opera was created jointly by the Auditorio de Tenerife, the Teatro de la Zarzuela, the Amazonas Opera Festival (Brazil) and the Theatro da Paz Opera Festival (Brazil).
Rivero said that this opera opens the season in Tenerife. Work on it began two and a half years ago, when he decided to stage "Yerma" together with Luís Fernando Malheiro (musical director). They reviewed the music, involved the Brazilian Academy of Music, and found theaters in America and Europe that supported the project.
Paco Azorín became the director and set designer. Carlos Martos de la Vega (dramaturgy and stage movements), Pedro Chamizo (video), Ana Garay (costumes) and Pedro Yagüe (lighting) also worked on the performance. Blanca Torres consulted on history and psychology.
The main role of Yerma will be played by two sopranos: Berna Perles (October 14, 16 and 18) and María Miró (October 17). Tenor Alejandro Roy will be Juan (Yerma's husband), and baritone Javier Castañeda will be Víctor (Yerma's childhood friend). Mezzo-soprano Anna Goma will play Maria (Yerma's friend), and mezzo-soprano María José Montiel will play Dolores (a fortune teller).
The performance also features Belén Elvira, Guadalupe Barrientos, Alexandra Urquiola, Zaira Ruiz, Marga Cloquell and Carmen Mateo, who will play old women, girls and other characters. Tenor Alberto Ballesta will play the male.
In addition to the singers, the Titular Ópera de Tenerife-Intermezzo choir and actors who will play the children that the main character cannot have will be on stage. Miguel Ángel Arqued will conduct the choir.
Luís Fernando Malheiro, who reworked the music for this performance, will conduct the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra. The premiere of the updated version will take place at these performances. On October 17, Maestro Pablo Urbina will conduct.
For the performance, the hall will be transformed into a pool filled with 20,000 liters of water. The water will be treated to ensure it is safe for the actors.
Water will symbolize life, and dryness will symbolize Yerma's feelings. The use of water emphasizes the ecological subtext of the work. The director wants to show that if Yerma succumbs to the influence of Juan (who symbolizes capitalism), then only emptiness awaits her.