Name: Merlin
Start: 2003-05-28T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2003-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Teatro Real

Organization

Singer

Baritone

David Wilson-Johnson

Merlin

Tenor

Stuart Skelton

King Arthur

Soprano

Eva Marton

Morgan le Fay

Angel Rodríguez

Gawain

Conductor

Jose de Eusebio

Stage director

John Dew

Set designer

Heinz Balthes

Costume designer

José-Manuel Vázquez

Lighting designer

Eduardo Bravo

Teatro Real de Madrid

Madrid

Spain

Teatro Real

We find ourselves near the east end of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, just before dawn. We can hear the monks singing in the cathedral. Near the wall is a block of marble with a richly decorated sword set in it. Merlin greets Christmas Day with a request: for Arthur to be crowned King of England before the day ends. With the help of her sisters, Nivian, a Saracen slave, beguiles the Gnomes so that Merlin can steal their gold. Nivian asks Merlin to keep his word and set them free when the King is crowned. Merlin threatens Nivian with terrible punishment if she tells Morgan le Fay of his plans.

The widespread recognition of Isaac Albéniz (born in Camprodon, Girona, on 29 May 1860, died in Cambo-les-Bains on 18 May 1909) as one of the essential figures of Spanish music is at odds with the lack of interest shown in his work as a whole until quite recently. Apart from the undisputed status of his piano pieces, especially his masterpiece Iberia, practically all his work was unknown. It seemed Albéniz had paid the price for following the main European cultural trends of his era —indeed, the narrow-minded, parochial milieu of his native country once led him to express his indignation and heartache in a famous phrase: “I have decided to ignore what is happening and what will happen in Spain.”  In effect, the nationalist aesthetic, traditionally associated with his musical language and stimulated by his studies with Felipe Pedrell, was based on a much more cosmopolitan range.

The first staged production (in May 2003) of an opera of the scale of Albéniz’ Merlin, a century after its composition, was both an event to celebrate and a subject worth serious consideration. After the long history of the work, its partial performances and general lack of interest, it is truly a privilege to see the first full staging of one of Albéniz’ most ambitious projects.

Merlin Albéniz

Approved

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Theorbist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Choir

Choreographer

Chorus Director

Chorus master

Composer

Dancer

Dramaturge

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

Librettist

Makeup artist

Orchestra

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Teacher

Translator

Video designer

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Countertenor

Bass

Contralto

Bass-baritone

Mezzo-soprano

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

Merlin by Albéniz, I., Mon 09 Jun 2003, From (2003/2003), Directed by John Dew,, Conductor Jose de Eusebio, Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Programme, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues