Air, Water, Fire, Earth, Dawn, Time…. classic elements take human
form to create an opera of breathtaking expressive power.
Literes composed this opera as a commission for the aristocracy –
an audience that was ready for musical innovation. And innovation
they received, as Literes planned his opera for a cast of six sopranos
and chamber orchestra. Rhythmic diversities and daring chromaticism
create a brilliant musical language with a distinctly Spanish flavor.
In an act of irony, or perhaps to make it sound more impressive,
Literes described his new opera as an opera in the “estilo italiano”
– Italian style, responding to the monarch´s preference for all this
Italian. Yet his “innovations” were clearly Spanish as he casted
women in “men´s” roles, a tradition that was popular in Madrid, Barcelona,
and Valencia at the time.
The original opera Los Elementos has a typical libretto from the
time: numerous characters, pompous, florid language, and a loose
plot full of allegories that worked wonders with a distracted aristocratic
audience. Next year´s production with Le Tendre Amour will use the
music and libretto in its original entirety, complete with original
instruments, but in a subtly comic - and ultimately very baroque
- way.
In the early 17th century, a novel by Quevedo that chronicles the
adventures of Don Pablos became popular. Pablos, a buscon (swindler),
sets out in life with two goals: to learn virtue and to become a
gentleman. He fails miserably at both. In this novel, Quevedo satirizes
Spanish society. It is from this book that was so popular in Literes´
time that we have taken the inspiration for our production of Los
Elementos.
The setting is simple, but effective: imagine a long table on the
stage, full of glasses, bottles, piles of food. Musicians are wandering
around, performing the lively music by Literes. The stage is set
for a marvelous banquet. The guests arrive, each represented by an
“element.” But the “elements” – five sopranos – turn out to be frivolous
and naughty. Though they wholeheartedly try to fit into high society
at this banquet, their true characters are revealed. Each one of
the invited guests is deplorable in their behavior for various reasons,
and it turns out that deep down these five sopranos are jealous and
egoistic. All the while, virtuosic arias and exciting instrumental
music create a frenzy of action. The mute actor, playing the part
of a waiter, tries to keep order and serve the next dish. But he
is clumsy, and creates more disasters than he is able to avoid. Each
situation is more ridiculous than the last, until finally the banquet
comes to a merciful end.
In short, the exaggerated and the deformed characters are the epitome
of “baroque” (aka exaggerated to the extreme), but this time the
show is meant for everyone to enjoy!
