Lacoren Presents , LORCA MADLY IN LOVE, (FLAMENCO AT IT’S BEST) (David Morales’ Company) AT STERN AUDITORIUM CARNEGIE HALL NOVEMBER 25, 2015 at 8PM
Guest Artists: Antonio Banderas, Alejandro Sanz and Miguel Poveda
“Lorca Madly in Love” is a daring, sensual yet sensitive portrayal of Federico García Lorca’s final love affair, an affair that probably cost him his life.
“I was Lorca’s last love and, perhaps, the reason for his death”. These are the words of Juan Ramirez de Lucas his young lover at the time, who kept secret his affair with Lorca until his own death, 75 years after that of the poet.
If you are looking for flamenco with nothing more than empty electrifying fast footwork, then “Lorca Madly in Love” is certainly not for you. If you prefer a work of quality that combines passion, drama, sensuality, tragedy and even comedy, and with a profound cultural content, this is the perfect production. It does have its moments of electrifying footwork, but here they have meaning.
With so much already written and performed about Lorca, his life and his work, it might seem difficult to find anything new. However, the mystery that surrounded the reasons for Lorca choosing not to flee Spain in 1936, when he knew his life was in serious danger, has now been solved.
With his “Lorca Madly in Love” David Morales breaks the social and cultural taboos of homophobia, above all in the world of flamenco, and he does so with a daring piece of theatre that goes far beyond the boundaries of flamenco.
Completely immersed in his role, Morales becomes Lorca on stage. He dances with his heart, abandoning himself completely to living every moment as Lorca. He is also one of few flamenco dancers who still improvise, an added spark to an already shining performance. But he does not stop there. For the first time we see a flamenco and a contemporary dancer, both male, interacting together on stage in moments of intense sexuality and emotion, but never crossing the boundary into vulgarity.
The simple setting is intensified by Juan Estelrich’s compelling, black-and-white, audiovisuals projected in unison or juxtaposition behind and in front of the stage.
Added to this we have the superb music of Daniel Casares, a seamless combination of pieces of the epoch with those written expressly for the work, and an emotive libretto by Manuel Francisco Reina, author of the book that relates this tragic love affair.
These already imposing elements are complemented by an impressive company of highly talented artists, resulting in a powerful and unforgettable work of art.
The objectives of “Lorca Muerto de Amor” are to extol the life and work of Lorca, as transgressors of his and our time, breaking taboos and conventions, be they social, political, cultural or sexual. But, above all, “Lorca Madly in Love” is a celebration of love. For this reason the title comes from one of Lorca’s most famous poems.
Amor, amor
que estoy herido.
Herido de amor huido,
herido,
muerto de amor.
Decid a todos que ha sido
el ruiseñor.
Bisturí de cuatro filos,
garganta rota y olvido.
Cógeme la mano, amor,
que vengo muy mal herido,
herido de amor huido,
¡herido!
¡Muerto de amor!
Jerez de la Frontera, in southern Andalusia, is the cradle of flamenco. It was here that David Morales premiered a work that celebrates love, in this case homosexual love. If he won over the audience, it would be a resounding success. But he risked complete failure and even derision if his Lorca did not convince Jerez.
He had nothing to fear. Even before the end of the first highly sensual pas de deux between David Morales and contemporary dancer Iván Amaya, the whole theatre had burst into spontaneous applause at the power of the emotions being portrayed on stage. The final standing ovation was prolonged and unanimous.
“Lorca Madly in Love” has been a resounding success everywhere that it has been performed (to date it is being toured within Spain).
“This production is destined to be a compulsory reference in future choreography through its delicacy, freedom and carefulness in its portrayal of love between men.”
“Interest is sustained throughout and culminates with the intense, emotional and exuberant ‘pas de deux’ interpreted by David Morales and Iván Amaya, in the respective roles of García Lorca and Juan Ramírez, the poet’s lover.”
“Everyone present in the Villamarta in Jerez has the certainty and satisfaction to have witnessed the premier of an exceptional and spectacular production that will be a reference for future choreographic works.”
(Francisco Mesa “DIARIO Bahía de Cádiz”)
“In spite of the complexity of the work, everything is treated with delicacy…”
“…it is David Morales who ‘narrates’ secrets of the staging with the classicism of his dance, and who uses his resources – honesty and maturity…”
(Manuel Martín Martín “El Mundo”)
IN DETAIL
The Enigma
Mystery had always surrounded the fact that Lorca chose to remain in Spain during the Civil War when he knew his life was seriously in danger. The solution to this enigma came to light after the death in 2010 of Lorca’s last, and previously unknown, lover. Juan Ramirez de Lucas had guarded his secret for 75 years but, on knowing he was shortly going to die, he handed over to his sister the box containing all the mementoes of their relationship, including a previously unseen poem, a diary of their affair and what is probably the last letter that the poet wrote.
Writer Manuel Francisco Reina was so fascinated by this revelation that he undertook deep and exhaustive research, resulting in his book “Los Amores Oscuros”, a novel that relates, in the first person, the story of this secret love, a beautiful but tragic tale of a love cut short, and for many years condemned to silence and secrecy. When flamenco dancer David Morales heard of this, his passion for Lorca inspired him to work with the author to represent this fascinating and tragic story, in a powerful and innovative way. All the weight of this secret, kept for 75 years, is unveiled on stage, between the fragments of a life that was escaping from its protagonist, a life full of light and shade, and of splendours that at times seemed fanciful.
Synopsis
Based on the novel “Los Amores Oscuros” by author Manuel Francisco Reina, the setting for this ill-fated romance is the Madrid of the mid-thirties, a turbulent and anxious time, with its political and social upheavals and a Spain on the verge of exploding into the madness of a Civil War. We witness the final happy days of a Federico García Lorca (David Morales) in love. He was a friend and collaborator with the Lyceum Club Femenino, a theatre company run by a group of some very forceful women. Although forgotten by history, they were fundamental in the life of Lorca in Madrid, and in the developing romance with Juan Ramirez de Lucas (Iván Amaya). It was at this time that Lorca was composing the verses that we now know were dedicated to his lover and that were to form, posthumously, the backbone of the book of poems, “Los Sonetos del Amor Oscuro”.
Juan Ramirez de Lucas, the son of a highly respected doctor from Albacete, came from a very conservative family but decided, at 17 years of age, to go to Madrid. His background contrasted strongly with the world of theatre and Lorca in which he found himself. This contrast of background is emphasised by the young lover being represented by a non-flamenco dancer. This is probably the first time this combination has ever been seen on stage and, given the subject matter, the result is daring, sensitive and sensual, but never crosses the line into vulgarity. In short, it is extremely powerful and emotive.
Lorca, already a successful poet and playwright, becomes a complete man when responding with a secure and passionate love to the unconditional commitment made to him by the young man. It is the latter who recounts the sweetness of these days in a choreographic dialogue with Lorca. Nevertheless, all the happiness that runs through this story is under the shadow of an ill-fated destiny. As circumstances begin to run away with themselves, the air the couple breathes becomes contaminated with the black omens that finally result in the tragic end of the poet.
Lorca’s verses are brought to life in the singing of Esperanza León, who can be thought of as the personification of his poetry, and the allegory of a Spain on the edge of madness is represented by dancer Noelia Saborea. For the first time in a flamenco staging we have Lorca himself, together with his life and works, being played out in a production that defies the boundaries of categorisation.
“LORCA Madly in Love”
Executive Producer Nestor Lacoren
Choreography David Morales
Music Daniel Casares
Libretto Manuel Francisco Reina
Audiovisuals Juan Estelrich
Dancers David Morales (Lorca)
Iván Amaya ( Lorca’s lover)
Noelia Sabarea
Singers Esperanza León
Kiko Peña
José Montoya
Musicians Guitars:
Daniel Casares
Gaspar Rodriguez
Victor Garrido
Violin:
David Moreira
Percussion:
Guillermo Ruiz
For more information contact: Nestor R. Lacoren at: 718 271 6794/96 or 917 270 6167
interview with Myrna Kahan
