María de Buenos Aires
by Astor Piazzolla
sung in Spanish with projected English translations
Friday, January 31 at 7:30pm
Sunday, February 2 at 2:30pm
Capitol Theater
Death Dances the Tango.
Born in the slums of Buenos Aires “one day when God was drunk,” María turns to the city in a desperate quest for freedom, falling in love with its tango rhythms. A dark, surreal story told in song and dance, this “tango opera” by the legendary Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla has been widely acclaimed since its 1968 premiere.
Don’t miss this evening of theatrical exhilaration, stunning music, and extraordinary dancing, featuring Kanopy Dance.
María de Buenos Aires
Music by Astor Piazzolla
Libretto by Horacio Ferrer
Premiered 8 May 1968, Sala Planeta, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Madison Opera premiere
Approximate run time: 90 minutes, with no intermission
Content Warning:
Appropriate for ages 12 and up.
Dark subject matter with mature themes, including sexual violence.
Not suitable for all audiences; contact info@madisonopera.org with any questions.
Note: The text for María de Buenos Aires is incredibly poetic, merely hinting at a plot in favor of exploring disjointed emotional moments strung together with three recurring characters.
El Duende (the Narrator), relates the story of María, born in a poor suburb of Buenos Aires. Maria’s journey starts in a church, joined by El Payador (a Singer) and the city’s faithful. María declares her passion for the city and its tango rhythms. Maria and other sex workers interact with the men of Buenos Aires, and Maria ultimately reckons with violence, death, and rebirth at a funeral ritual. The attendees of Maria’s funeral travel through their city, and the shadow of María recounts stories of her childhood. El Duende leads the people of Buenos Aires in searching for their lost Maria, eventually exalting her and her child.
![Kelly,Guerra2 Kelly,Guerra2](https://www.madisonopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/KellyGuerra2-300x400.jpg)
Kelly Guerra
María
![Ryan Center Portraits of Lucy Baker Ryan Center Portraits of Lucy Baker](https://www.madisonopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/QuantLaureano-scaled-300x400.jpg)
Laureano Quant
El Payador
![03 El Duende - Kirstin Chavez 03 El Duende - Kirstin Chavez](https://www.madisonopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/03-El-Duende-Kirstin-Chavez-scaled-300x400.jpg)
Kirstin Chávez
El Duende
![Kamna-4_edited_edited Kamna-4_edited_edited](https://www.madisonopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kamna-4_edited_edited-300x400.png)
Kamna Gupta
Conductor
![2324 Headshot Francies Rabalais 2324 Headshot Francies Rabalais](https://www.madisonopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2324-Headshot-Francies-Rabalais-300x400.jpg)
Frances Rabalais
Stage Director
![Thurrell_Lisa Thurrell_Lisa](https://www.madisonopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Thurrell_Lisa-300x400.jpg)