An opera based on philanthropist Vicente Ferrer to be shown in Barcelona’s Sant Jordi pavilion

Barcelona (ACN).- The opera ‘L’home del paraigua’ (which would translate as ‘The umbrella man’), created by Joan Martínez to pay homage to Vicente Ferrer, will be shown on Saturday in Barcelona’s Sant Jordi Pavillion. The opera is based on Vicente Ferrer, a Catalan who devoted his life to helping the poorest people in Anantapur, in India’s Andra Pradesh. Vicente Ferrer’s project brought aid to some 2.5 million people. He created the Vicente Ferrer Foundation, which in 2010 was nominated for the Noble Peace Prize. Martínez met Ferrer in India and he was so impressed that he created ‘L’home del paraigua’ in his honour. This “opera collage”, as its author calls it, has already premiered at the Liceu Theatre in September 2010, a year after Vicente Ferrer had died. The show has professional singers and musicians sharing the stage with amateurs. It is based on a trip around the life and work of Vicente Ferrer. Martínez explained that “the values and explaining some moments of Vicente Ferrer’s life can bring light to many situations from nowadays because through his life he knew how to face critical moments and deep changes”.

Joan Martínez met Vicente Ferrer in 2004, in India, and they began a friendship. The composer wanted to pay homage to the Jesuit missionary, who devoted his life to helping the poorest together with his wife Anne Perry. The opera is thought out as a sound track and it is interpreted into seven different languages: Catalan, Spanish, Basque, English, German, Hindi and Greek.

For the Sant Jordi show on Saturday, music professionals from the MC Cor Barcelona Chamber Choir, the Barcelona Classic Academy, the Orquestra Centenari and solo singers will share the stage with amateurs. The amateurs change depending on where the opera is playing. Martínez explained that the musical structure is more like that of a great oratorio, in which the orchestra includes instruments from folk music and pop. Music “mixes the tradition of classical music and modern music”, such as hip-hop, gospel, popular dances, etc. explained the author.

The Catalan-Hindu soprano Roser Ferrer-Morató, who plays Indira, said that the people going to the show have to attend with their “hearing and mind wide open”. The professional singer said that the amateur participants are “authentic specialists of their own moment and great artists”. She also reminded people that the audience present at the Palau Sant Jordi will also actively participate in the show.

Martínez added that, as long as he lives, the show “will be growing and changing”. The soprano also stated that it should “never” stop being played. Martínez explained that after the tour around Catalonia and Sant Jordi’s show, ‘L’home del paraigua’ will tour around the Balearic Islands and it will also be played in Frankfurt.