La Fura dels Baus adapts Manuel de Falla’s ‘The Bewitched Love’ a century after its debut

Barcelona (ACN)-. ‘The Bewitched Love’ – ‘El amor brujo’ in Spanish - was premiered in the Lara Theater in Madrid in 1915, setting new standards. This well-known musical piece composed by Manuel de Falla will celebrate a century on stage this year. This has led the Catalan theatrical company La Fura dels Baus, world-reknown for their innovative, provocative and technological creations, to prepare a musical performance of the play. The show is going to be called ‘El amor brujo: el fuego y la palabra’ (The Bewitched Love: the fire and the word]) and will make its debut on 10 July in Granada, a week before being shown in the Castell de Peralada International Festival in Girona. 

The Fura dels Baus company offers cinema projections by Granada visual creator José Val del Omar as special features include transitions between musical and theatrical scenes. Moreover, dance, flamenco and acrobatics combined with water and fire elements will play a big part in the show’s development.

Director’s challenge

Carlus Padrissa, Director of La Fura’s show, states that “‘The Bewitched Love’ is a universal piece which lasts over time, even La Fura dels Baus’ reformulation”. “The challenge of changing the project into an innovative show has motivated us to going on with such a proposal” recognised Padrissa, one of the eight founders from 1979. “Our version will be surprising for the audience thanks to the natural sources involved and, besides this, it will break the mould as the piece itself does”, Carlus Padrissa concludes about the show.

Lover ghost and folklore as a lead

‘The Bewitched Love’ represents a mix between classical music and Andalusian folklore originally composed as a chamber music composition, and adapted for a symphony orchestra and mezzosoprano vocals the following year. Based on Gregorio Martínez Sierra’s libretto, it tells of the gipsy Candela’s drama caused by the spectre of her ex-lover Carmelo and how she must find a way to transfer his attenton to other women. 

Reputated artists under promotion

Granada singer Marian Heredia, Catalan choreographer Pol Jiménez and the actors and dancers of La Fura dels Baus company constitute the production. The piece will be the second Manuel de Falla co-production from the International Festival Castell de Peralada and the International Music and Dance Festival of Granada, now in co-operation with the Secuoya Group, the Teatros del Canal cultural centre, Old and New Montecarlo, the Theatre of Sao Paulo Foundation and the Teatro Communale of Bologna.