The Soho Theater expands its musical repertoire with the premiere of its first opera, 'The Knight of Olmedo'

He has made the musical genre one of his hallmarks; he has created his own orchestra, the Larios Pop; he regularly schedules concerts, and even organizes... a flamenco series. Now, the Teatro del Soho Caixabank is expanding its repertoire with opera, premiering this weekend (Friday 9 and Sunday 11) 'El caballero de Olmedo', based on the work of Lope de Vega with an adaptation by Lluís Pasqual and music composed and conducted by Arturo Díez Boscovich. A great Spanish love story that includes a matchmaker, as befits a text from the Golden Age, and which is a true "wonder," the composer and show director assured this Tuesday, stating that the concert version—without sets or costumes—will still capture "all the spirit of Lope; the essence of the work will be here."

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Everything is already set up for the orchestra to fully occupy the stage of the Teatro del Soho on several levels, with the choir at the highest point. And in the foreground, space for the sopranos and tenors to take center stage with their voices. "Each brings their own costume, but the women have agreed to coordinate and to nod to the era of the work," explained Berna Perles during the presentation of this concert version of the opera that premiered in 2023 at the Teatro de la Zarzuela. Specifically, the Malaga native, who plays Doña Inés, is one of the three original cast artists repeating their roles, along with fellow townspeople Alba Chantar (Doña Leonor) and Rubén Amoretti (Tello).

Although it is a concert version—without sets or costumes—'El caballero de Olmedo' has "all the spirit of Lope; the essence of the work will be here"

"Six performances were scheduled, which is extraordinary for a contemporary work, and the day after the premiere, all remaining tickets for the other days were sold," Perles recalled about the success of this script that marks Soho's first foray into bel canto. "The future of opera lies in new compositions resonating and the audience empathizing and getting emotional; this happens with 'El caballero de Olmedo'," celebrated the soprano, who shares the spotlight with Venezuelan tenor Aquiles Machado, making his debut in the role of Don Alonso.

Journey to the Golden Age

"I knew of the work's fame, but the discovery has been encountering a team and especially, a fantastic composer who transports us with his music to the Spanish Golden Age," considered the Latin American singer, who also spoke about the musical demands of Díez Boscovich and joked about the "whip" with which the director and author brings out the best in the Soho's Larios Pop orchestra. Antonio Banderas was present at Monday's rehearsal as the producer of this show, which also features María Lourdes Benítez, the third Malaga native in the cast and thrilled to perform at home. "It's satisfying to sing in my city and in my theater, since even if it belongs to Antonio, it is also my theater," the mezzo-soprano affirmed.

Without the scenic demands, Arturo Díez Boscovich has reorchestrated this version of 'El caballero de Olmedo' to enhance its musical personality. A work that, as he recalled, was quite a challenge to create. "The challenge was to write it, and especially, to finish it," the composer recounted, who assured that his obsession with the piece was such that he ended up under house arrest. "Lope de Vega already has music in the verse and it was difficult because I had to read the text and internalize it. That's why I disappeared for two years, on the run, because I was locked up writing," the musical director of the Teatro del Soho explained, whose work has thrilled all members of his cast. Even one who is also a musicologist, the Catalan countertenor Víctor Jiménez Díaz, did not hide the emotion that this 'Caballero de Olmedo' produces, even though it is a concert version: "The orchestra is overwhelming and the sound fills the theater. Anyone who comes to see this will be hooked on opera forever."

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