We’re turning to another opera that’s been forgotten although it was quite popular when it premiered in 1920 on this week’s Sunday Opera (6/15 3:00 p.m.), and as a bonus, it’s written in the Basque idiom. It’s Spanish composer Jesus Guridi’s “Amaya.” Guridi (1886 – 1961) played an important role as a Spanish / Basque composer who wrote operas and zarzuelas as well as orchestral, piano, choral, and organ works.
“Amaya” deals with religious and nationalistic conflicts on which hangs the future of the Basque people in the 8th century. Christianity is threatening the old religion, the Moors are invading Spain, and Pagan Amaya (Rebecca Copley), who is the presumptive leader of her people since the sudden death of her father, has to choose between the love of a Christian invader Teodosio (Cesar Hernandez) and that of a long-time Basque admirer, Asier (Rosendo Flores).
Teodosio has pledged to help Amaya’s people to defeat the Moors, which he eventually does, but because of the treachery of Asier, he inadvertently kills his parents and becomes a hermit. Amaya, who had converted to Christianity and married Teodosio) stays true, and after several year, she visits Teodosio’s cave. While she is there, Asier, who has been wounded in battle, comes to Teodosio to explain his treachery, and asks to be forgiven and baptized before he dies. Teodosio does, realizes that Amaya is there, and the two are reunited.
performance is sung in the Basque dialect, and the cast includes Marianne Cornetti, Itxaro Mentxaka, Carlso Conde, Angel Pazos, and Gorka Robles. Theo Alcantara conducts the Bilbao Choral Society and Symphony Orchestra.
Please stay tuned after the opera for more music of Guridi planned, including the Sinfonica Pirenaica (Pyrenean Symphony) and the String Quartet in A minor.
