Productions
Mystics
An original production of Musica Aperta Based on texts by Saint John of the Cross and Rosalia de Castro
Created by Ignacio Alcover and Juan Uriagereka
Directed by Pedro Boixeda
Script Juan Uriagereka and Ignacio Alcover
Textual Treatment and English Synopsis Juan Uriagereka
Lighting Gordon Anson
Sound John Conway
Executive Director Robert Wight
Artistic Director Ignacio Alcover
Trailer
Music & Photo Montage
Originally premiering in October 2008 at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. and co-sponsored by the Embassy of Spain, Mystics is a stirring musical and theatrical performance inspired by the Spanish mystics. The show blends poetry from the Spiritual Canticle written by St. John of the Cross during his imprisonment in Toledo, Spain in the 16th century with music from a variety of composers reaching back to medieval Magister Perotinus and Spanish Renaissance composer Cristóbal de Morales. These works are musically juxtaposed with Arvo Pärt’s contemporary minimalism, whose purity of expression is also reminiscent of Saint John’s language and works by Henryk Góreki. The drama plays out as actors portray St. John as prisoner and his guard, who undergoes a transformative experience as he witnesses the poetry of his captive. With the additional support of the Foreign Ministry of Spain, Mystics was performed in San Juan, Miami, San Francisco and Boston in the first half of 2010.
Musica Aperta
Actors
Fermí Reixach (Washington DC, 2008)
Manolo Santalla (US Tour 2010)
Scott Morgan
Musicians
Violin James Stern and Joel Fuller (2008)
Yvonne Lam and Eva Cappelletti Chao (2010)
Viola Philippe Chao
Cello Ignacio Alcover
Soprano Rosa Lamoreaux
Piano Kathryn Brake and Haskell Small
Saxophone David Jones
National Gallery Vocal Arts Ensemble (2008)
Photo Gallery
Scenes and Music Program
Scene #1
The Prisoner
“La Música Callada” for piano. No. 1 and 2.
Federico Mompou
Scene #2
Entrance of the guard
“ Quasi una Fantasia” String Quartet No. 2
II. Deciso-Energico; Furioso. Tranquilo-Mesto
Henryk Górecki
Scene #3
Punishment
“La Música Callada” for piano. No. 17 and 21
Federico Mompou
Scene #4
At the fountain
Beata Viscera for countertenor and saxophone
Magister Perotinus
Scene #5
Back to prison life
“ Quasi una Fantasia” String Quartet No. 2
IV. Allegro- Sempre con grande passione e molto marcato;
Lento-Tranquillissmo Henryk Górecki
Scene #6
Writing
“Fur Allina” for piano
Arvo Pärt
Scene #7
Spellbound
“Lúa Dscolorida” for soprano and piano
(set to the poem by Rosalía de Castro)
Osvaldo Golijov
Scene #8
Doubts
“…songs are sung” String Quartet No. 3
IV. Deciso-Espressivo ma ben tenuto
Henryk Górecki
Scene #9
The plan
“Spiegel im Spiegel” for violin or viola or cello and piano
Arvo Pärt
Scene #10
Go...
“Cantar del Alma” for voice and piano
(set to poem by San Juan de le Cruz)
Federico Mompou
Scene #11
A prisoner
“Parce Mihi Domine for vocal and instrumental ensemble
Cristóbal de Morales