El Retablo de Maese Pedro – Master Peter’s Puppet Show (10.02.15)
A puppet opera by Manuel de Falla
A musical spectacle from the series Cervantine Stories, Quixotic Moments to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication of Part II of Don Quixote de la Mancha (1615-2015).
- Unitas Ensemble, Lina Marcela González, Music Director
- Benjamín Juárez, Artistic Director & Guest Conductor
- John Bell, Trudi Cohen, Pablo Cueto, Carmen Solís, Puppeteers
- Marisa Canales, Soprano
- Hector Vasquez, Baritone
- David Evans, Tenor
El Retablo de Maese Pedro (Master Peter’s Puppet Show) was composed by Manuel de Falla based on a chapter of Don Quixote. In the opera, Don Quixote is watching a puppet play: A medieval story of love and quarrels between Moors and Christians, in which Don Gayferos, a knight at Charlemagne’s court frees his wife Melisendra, who was held captive by the Moors.
Falla composed this opera in homage to Cervantes and dedicated it to the Princess de Polignac, who commissioned the work. Written in 1923 for opera singers, chamber orchestra and puppet theatre, the show brought fame to De Falla and has been staged all over the world, remaining a popular title.
The opera will be sung in Spanish with supertitles in English. The event is free and open to the public. You can book your free tickets at the Harvard Box Office online at www.boxoffice.harvard.edu or by phone at 617.496.2222. Please note that ticket processing fees will apply. Suitable for children five years of age and older.
