Magdalena - Montpellier Opera house (2026) - Magdalena - Opéra-Orchestre National de Montpellier (2026)

Description

With Opera Junior (see our French report on Opera Junior on the occasion of their Bluebeard in 2025).

"A musical comedy in two acts. Book by Robert Wright and George Forrest. Premiered on July 26, 1948, at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (Philharmonic Auditorium).

Presented in 1948 in Los Angeles before hitting Broadway, Magdalena blends the codes of the American musical with sounds inspired by South American traditions. Set in Colombia, on the banks of the Magdalena River, the plot immerses the audience in a Colombian village plagued by corruption: the arrival of a foreign engineer disrupts the fragile balance between local traditions, religious power, and political issues. The rich and colorful score reflects composer Villa-Lobos's ambition to merge musical cultures. The work was warmly acclaimed at its premiere in the United States, yet remains rarely performed. Opéra Junior is reviving it this season, in a revised version adapted for its young performers. A rare opportunity to discover a committed, moving, and spectacular, served by the momentum and freshness of youth."

More information is available on the official website of the opera house.