El Retablo De Maese Pedro

Regarded as the greatest Spanish composer of the 20th century, Manuel De Falla (1876-1946) had a distinctive nationalistic style. His 1923 puppet opera El Retablo De Maese Pedro marks the point atwhich he broadens his influences away from Andalusian music, and finds inspiration from other Spanish folk genres. His “Play within a Play” sets a scene from Don Quixote which is actually about a puppettheatre.

Scored for Treble, Tenor, Baritone, and Chamber Orchestra, this 30-minute opera was immediately praised by the musical establishment of the time, and paved the way for De Falla to achieve globalrecognition.