La Curandera - Comic Opera in One Act - Notes

Notes

La Curandera (2005) is a comedy in one act, commissioned by Opera Colorado. The premiere production in 2006 was presented on a double bill with Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne (1768). The libretto of La Curandera is based on an original story inspired by Mozart’s three-character opera. The new Mexican setting replaces the original sorcerer with a curandera, or practitioner of folk healing and magic, and adds three additional characters. Although the libretto is primarily in English, there are frequent Spanish words and phrases, including many popular proverbs and idiomatic expressions from both Mexico and Spain. The libretto also incorporates actual curandera incantations, rituals and procedures from Mexican folklore as well as from current practice in Mexico and in the United States. In treating the natural and the supernatural as two sides of the same coin, the central character of the opera, La Curandera, embodies what conductor/ composer Eduardo Mata described as an essential feature of his childhood in Mexico, "living close to witches and sorcerers. Their sons and daughters were my friends. I grew up in a world where magic and the interplay between the real and the objective and the unreal and the magic coexisted on a daily basis. This [syncretism] has been a way of life in many of the cultures of Hispano-America..."

The music of La Curandera, likewise, pays homage to Mozart, with a Mexican flavor. The six singers are joined by eight instrumentalists: clarinet (doubling alto saxophone), trumpet, bass trombone, percussion, accordion, piano, violin and cello. In the overture, the distinctive entrance music for Mozart’s sorcerer is heard, then transformed into sounds of mariachi. Authentic Mexican melodies are employed throughout the opera, including the national anthem, Mexicanos al grito de guerra, the traditional march, Zacatecas, the folk song, La chinita and several melodies, textures and harmonic patterns derived from the traditional son jarocho-style music of Veracruz: El guapo, Coni coni, El huerfanito, El borracho, El buscapies and La bruja. Arias, spoken dialogue and accompanied recitative alternate with intricate opera buffa ensembles in a score filled with Rodriguez' characteristic "richly lyrical" (Musical America) writing, in a style "romantically dramatic" (Washington Post) and full of the composer's "all-encompassing sense of humor" (Los Angeles Times).

English Translations of Some Spanish Phrases

 

Valor sin dolor - Valor without pain

Valor sin temor - Valor without fear

Como México no hay dos – There is no place like Mexico

Con nuestros hijos llenos de gloria – With our sons filled with glory.

Como El General tampoco hay dos. – There is also no one like The General.

Un laurel para él de victoria – A laurel of victory for him

¿Listo? - Ready?

Hasta la próxima vez – See you later

Dudas – Doubts

Tio, Tia – Uncle, Aunt

Vajilla de plata – Silver place setting

Empanadas sabrosas – Delicious turnovers

Relojito – Little watch

Muy amable – Very nice (of you)

Querida – Dear

Mujeres – Women

Espíritu de los siete cielos - Spirit of the Seven Heavens

Espíritu de la llama sagrada – Spirit of the Sacred Flame

Espíritu del misterio y la oscuridad – Spirit of Mystery and Darkness

Espíritu de belleza y deseo – Spirit of Beauty and Desire

Espíritu de amor – Spirit of Love

Dios los crea, pero ellos se juntan. – God made them, but they got together on their own. (Those two deserve each other.)

El amor sin celos no es amor. – Love without jealousy is not love.

Amor es locura – Love is madness

La Curandera se arreglará. – The Curandera will fix (everything).

Tú debes amarla con todo el corazón. – You must love her with all your heart.

Casamiento y mortaja del cielo bajan. – Heaven decides when we die and whom we marry.

Hijo, Hija – Son, Daughter (used to address young people)

¿Que puedo hacer? – What can I do?

Así es la vida – That’s life

De aquí en adelante – From now on