Purcell: The Indian Queen

This is the second creative project bringing together conductor Teodor Currentzis and director Peter Sellars (the first being the operatic double-bill of Iolanta and Perséphone staged in Madrid in 2012), and also the first collective production of three opera companies — the Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Spanish Teatro Real and the English National Opera. The Teatro Real performance appears on this DVD and Blu-ray product.

The action is set in Central America. Spanish colonialists are at war with the native Mayan people. In the face of the armed forces the locals appear armed with bows and arrows, but they are mere children. Blood runs like a river. The Mayans resort to trickery – in order to infiltrate the enemy, the daughter of the Mayan chief becomes a concubine to the commander of the Spanish army. The plan brings her unexpected happiness (she falls in love with the commander and has children with him) but also tragedy (the Spanish colonialists continue the massacre of the Mayans). With nowhere to turn for help, the only hope is that the great Mayan gods will descend from the sky to the earth at the critical moment…

The scenery recreates the symbolic and colourful decoration of the Mayan tribes and the Zapatista Army — a modern national liberation movement in Mexico. The music is performed by an international ensemble of soloists, choir and the orchestra musicAeterna.

“Purcell ‘s music is extraordinary and requires great sensitivity from the conductor to be performed properly. Mr. Currentzis has gotten this completely” – SEEN-AND-HEARD INTERNATIONAL

“Colourful and visually effective, it delineates and suggests but does not dominate. Conceived by Xicano artist Gronk (a.k.a. Glugio Nicandro) and reminiscent of abstract expressionism, it provides a simple yet powerful background against which to tell this story of love and fear.” - BACHTRACK

Audio Languages: English

Number of Discs: 1

Subtitle Languages: German, French, English

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