The Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico, directed by Lluís Homar since 2019, brings an evening of romanticism in poetry and music to the Teatre Grec. Canciones de amor, de desamor y de piratas [Songs of Love, Heartbreak and Pirates] will be a recital of poetry and bilingual music in which notable actors, including Marisa Paredes, Manuela Velasco, Lluís Homar, Pere Arquillué, Alberto San Juan and Natalia Menéndez, will read Catalan and Spanish romance poetry. Over the course of the evening, you’ll hear poems by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Rosalía de Castro, José de Espronceda and José Zorrilla, part of the Spanish romantic literary movement, who sought freedom of form, in addition to an emotional intensity sometimes inspired by antiquity or tradition, in the creations they presented. In addition to the works by these authors, however, we’ll also hear poems from Catalan authors such as Àngel Guimerà, as part of the events for the centenary of the author’s death.
Music will be a key part of the evening, with Xavier Albertí on the piano accompanied by Sabadell soprano María Hinojosa Montenegro. Together, they will provide a survey of compositions from Spanish romantic bel canto, including works by little-known 19th-century creator Paulina Cabrero, a renowned singer, composer, pianist, harpist and organist extensively praised by the press of the time. She is now rediscovered in a poetic and musical recital that also includes works by Ramon Carnisser, a composer from Tàrrega who ended up writing Chile’s national anthem; Manuel García, a notable 19th-century composer and maestro; and Sebastián de Iradier, composer of the well-known song La Paloma, among many others. This theatrical journey through poems and music is sure to spark passion in the hearts of audience members.
A co-production by the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico and Grec 2024 Festival de Barcelona.
Recommended to visual impaired people.
Directed by: Jorge Torres. Written by: Xavier Albertí. Performed by: Xavier Albertí, Pere Arquillué, María Hinojosa, Lluis Homar, Natalia Menéndez, Manuela Velasco, Marisa Paredes, Alberto San Juan. Lighting: David Bofarull. Costumes: Pier Paolo Álvaro, Roger Portal Cervera. Verse advisor: Vicente Fuentes. Photography: Sergio Parra. Aknowledgements: Albert Arribas.