By Martin Brisland.
It is refreshing to see the Welsh National Opera (WNO) try new or less often performed material. Last year they had a hit with Janacek’s The Makropulos Affair from the 1920s. This season they chose the unique Ainadamar which was only written in 2003 and it is another triumph.
It is based around the story of Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936). He has become the most important Spanish poet and playwright of the 20th century and a symbol of artistic freedom.
He was shot by a right wing firing squad just a month into the Spanish Civil War. This WNO production of Ainadamar is particularly relevant today given the rise of ‘populism’ in many countries.
Lorca was killed in the vicinity of the well of Ainadamar, which is Arabic for Fountain of Tears, near his home city of Granada. Later, many others were murdered there during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s.
His martyrdom is central to Argentinian musician Osvaldo Golijov’s single-act opera Ainadamar. Polish mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp superbly plays the poet in what is known today as a ‘trouser’ role, that is, a male character performed by a woman.
Ainadamar explores Lorca’s life and death through the memories of his friend and muse actress Margarita Xirgu. Lorca was not only a poet, artist, playwright and director but was an advocate for Andalusian folklore, especially flamenco.
Ainadamar also requires the singers to put on their dance shoes, performing flamenco alongside professional dancers. The cast blend as a single organism – dancing, moving scenery, singing and clapping.
This WNO production has an infectious score that is alive with Latin American rhythms but it also has gravitas. It is sung in Spanish, a first for the WNO.
Matthew Kofi Waldren returns to WNO to conduct Ainadamar. A particularly passionate vocal performance is given by Argentinian soprano Jaquelina Livieri as Lorca’s muse Margarita Xirgu. She had portrayed Mariana Pineda in his first successful play. Pineda, garrotted in the 19th century for her revolutionary stance, was an inspiration for Lorca since childhood with her self-sacrifice for the cause of freedom.
Telling the story in remembrance as a dying woman, determined that her personal mission should continue with her protegée Nuria (Julieth Lozano Rolong), Livieri superbly conveys Xirgu’s anguish at failing to persuade Lorca to escape with her to Cuba. Joining the two is the Colombian soprano Julieth Lozano Rolong (Nuria) and Andalusian flamenco singer Alfredo Tejada (Ruiz Alonso).
Golijov’s tapestry of Latin American, Andalusian, Moorish, Catholic and Judaic influences, together with electronic sampling, is all faultlessly delivered by the WNO orchestra under the baton of Matthew Kofi Waldren. The director is Olivier award-winning Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker (Rio 2016 Olympics, Cirque du Soleil).
The WNO are at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, until 25th November. Tickets via mayflower.org.uk or 023 8071 1811.
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Ainadamar – The story of Spanish poet Lorca and his fountain of tears
Preview: WNO Ainadama, La traviata, and Play Opera LIVE, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton