29 January 2008
Students stage premiere of earliest Spanish opera
A UK public premiere of the earliest Spanish opera is to be performed by students at the University of Sheffield this month. Juan Hidalgo´s Celos Aun Del Aire Matan (which translates as Jealousy Even of the Air Can Kill) will be performed by Music and Hispanic Studies students, between Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 February 2008 at the University Drama Studio.
The production will be under the artistic direction of Andrew Lawrence-King, a World-famous harpist and expert in early music, as well as Jane Davidson and Tony Bennett from the University´s Department of Music. The project is coordinated by Anthony Trippett from the Department of Hispanic Studies.
The opera, which was written in 1660, is considered by many to be the earliest score of Spanish opera to have survived intact. It centres on a battle between the chaste goddess Diana and her archrival Venus, the goddess of love. Despite being goddesses, the two are driven by the very human emotions of love, jealousy and revenge, and their rivalry is acted out in high drama and fine comedy, with elements of the supernatural.
A companion piece to Purpora de la Rosa, which received its UK premiere at the University in 2003, Celos Aun Del Aire Matan boasts a libretto by Spain´s leading 17th Century dramatist, Pedro Calderon de la Barca.
Stewart Campbell, concerts assistant at the University, said: "It is wonderful to see the team that collaborated on our previous early music productions back together to produce what looks to be another beautiful production. Sublime singing, fine acting and beautiful visuals combine in this underperformed work, making it a rare gem that is not to be missed." Notes for Editors: The tickets are £10, £8 (concessions) and £5 (students/unwaged) and are available from the Department of Music, 38 Taptonville Road, Sheffield, S10 5BR. All enquiries to Mr Stewart Campbell on 0114 222 0499 or email concerts@sheffield.ac.uk.
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