Los celos hacen estrellas y el amor hace prodigios

Ópera de Tenerife, as part of its Chamber Opera offerings, presents a staging of this baroque zarzuela, the earliest Spanish example to survive with both its libretto and score intact. This marks the first staging since its rediscovery, a landmark for Spanish lyric heritage.

We are witnessing a comprehensive restoration of the first Baroque zarzuela to be preserved with a complete libretto and score, as most of Juan Hidalgo’s works were lost in the fire at the Alcázar of Madrid in 1734. This production by the Tenerife Auditorium is the first staging since its restoration, a milestone in Spanish opera heritage.

The text is of paramount importance here, and the affections and disaffections are revealed in a fast-paced manner, wrapped up in the classic themes of Baroque tragedies: love, heartbreak, betrayal, jealousy… The widespread ignorance of this 400-year-old music prepares us for a stimulating discovery in which the feeling of novelty underlies every note from the first to the last.

In contrast, the staging is entirely contemporary. What would love look like under a microscope? Artificial intelligence and 3D designs will create a powerful dialogue between the past and the present on stage.