In this “double-bill” opera, the striking contrast between two different women is explored through two operas: "The Human Voice" by Francis Poulenc and "La Serva Padrona" by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.
The Human Voice by Francis Poulenc
Libretto by Jean Cocteau
- - Interval - - -
La Serva Padrona, opera in two acts (intermezzi) by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Libretto by Antonio Federico Gennaro from a theatre work of the same name by Jacopo Angelo Nelli
Performances
10 September - 17h00 (2nd show at 19h00)
The Human Voice
Artistic information
Jorge Balça, staging
Rodrigo Teixeira, correpetition
Nuno Esteves (Blue), props
Marília Zangrandi, costumes
Zeca Iglésias, light operation
Ana Paula Menezes, stage direction
Cast
Elle - Marília Zangrandi, soprano
Rodrigo Teixeira, piano
La Serva Padrona
Artistic record
Carlos Antunes, staging
António Carrilho, musical direction
Natacha Costa Pereira, set design
Nuno Braz de Oliveira, costumes
Nuno Esteves (Blue), stage costume designer
Zeca Iglésias, lighting design
Fátima Sousa, characterisation
Ana Paula Menezes, stage direction
Cast
Serpina - Carla Caramujo, soprano
Uberto - Luís Rodrigues, baritone
Vespone - João Merino, baritone
José Carlos Araújo, harpsichord
La Nave Va Orchestra
António Carrilho, musical direction
SYNOPSIS
In this operadouble-bill, the striking contrast between two different women is explored through two operas: The Human Voice by Francis Poulenc and La Serva Padrona by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.
In the first part of the show, we are immediately transported to the bedroom of a tormented woman. The character, Elle, is lost in an agonising telephone conversation with the lover who has abandoned her. Her vulnerability, desperation and loneliness are palpable, with Poulenc's music intensifying every raw emotion and heavy silence. In Elle, we see a woman confronted with loss and rejection, her humanity displayed in such a disarmingly realistic way that it becomes impossible to look away.
In the second part, we are taken into a very different atmosphere with La Serva Padrona. Here, the clever and cunning maid Serpina manipulates her boss, Uberto, into taking her as his wife. Unlike Elle, Serpina displays a sense of power and control, despite her servile position. She is intelligent, daring and totally in control of herself. Pergolesi's music emphasises her wit and independence, showing that a woman can take control of her own destiny, even when the world seems to be against her.
The presentation of these two operas in a single show is therefore an exploration of the many facets of femininity. From the bedroom to the living room, from despair to determination, these women show us that there is no single way to be a woman. Each of them, in her own way, shows her strength, be it emotional, intellectual or social, defying her circumstances to find her own voice - a deeply human voice.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
FOO's revival
The Óbidos Opera Festival, which marked an entire generation of professionals and music lovers, has been inactive in recent years. ABA - Banda de Alcobaça, Associação de Artes, in its application for Sustained Support from the Directorate-General for the Arts for the period 2023-2026, stated that one of its objectives was to revive this festival, establishing a strategic partnership with the Municipality of Óbidos for this purpose. The aim of this partnership is to breathe new life into the Óbidos Opera Festival by providing it with the conditions for a sustainable future with the capacity to grow, helping to place Portugal on the global opera circuit.
Relevance
The Óbidos Opera Festival aims to position Portugal on the global opera circuit through strategic national and international partnerships and the participation of renowned artists. Our ambition is to turn Óbidos into a laboratory for creative ideas in the fields of staging, musical interpretation and connecting with audiences, as well as a space for the discovery and affirmation of talent, endowing this Festival with an international ambition that should be projected into its future, making Portugal a centre for the production and circulation of opera with global reach, attracting an international audience and boosting cultural tourism, leaving an indelible mark on the opera scene.
The Festival's activities run from August, still in Lisbon and Porto, where rehearsals and preparation work for the operas will take place, until mid-September, when the shows will be presented.
Quinta das Janelas
The venue chosen to host the Óbidos Opera Festival activities is Quinta das Janelas. Located in Vale das Flores and just a few metres from the Convent of São Miguel, its construction dates back to the early 16th century and incorporates the old Quinta das Flores (where Queen Leonor stayed when she travelled to Caldas). A magical place full of history, it includes a 16th century palace, a set of wine presses, cellars, a riding arena and a fountain. On this estate we can also see the Chapel of Nossa Sra. do Desterro and a sulphurous water spring (formerly known as Caldas das Gaeyras) which is used in a simple vaulted house with a tank inside.