Three hundred and twenty-five years after its premiere, the opera La púrpura de la rosa—composed by Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco with a libretto by Pedro Calderón de la Barca—returns to the stage in a brand-new production. Performances will take place on June 14, 16, and 18 at the Teatro Principal Manuel Segura in Lima.
The production features an all-Spanish leading cast, starring soprano Lucía Iglesias (Venus), countertenor Rafael Quirant (Adonis), and mezzo-soprano Inés López (Mars), all of whom are making their Peruvian and Latin American debuts with this Baroque masterpiece.
As the first opera composed and premiered in the Americas (1701, during the height of the Viceroyalty of Peru), the score is widely considered a crown jewel of Latin American Baroque music, blending traditional Spanish style with the distinct context of the New World. Recently, the original manuscript of La púrpura de la rosa was officially declared a National Cultural Heritage by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture.
This production also marks the first major leading role for soprano Lucía Iglesias, who will portray Venus.
"Making my Latin American debut with a role of this magnitude and in such a significant context is an immense privilege," Iglesias remarked. "The role of Venus demands absolute dramatic commitment and a deep understanding of the Spanish Baroque style. This new production strikes the perfect balance between a contemporary interpretation and fidelity to Calderón’s original text. Visually and aesthetically, it is absolutely stunning."
The staging is directed by Jean Pierre Gamarra, with musical direction by Aurelio Tello, who will conduct the Baroque Orchestra of the Teatro Municipal de Lima. The set design is by Lorenzo Albani.
The performances of La púrpura de la rosa will coincide with the annual conference of OLA (Ópera Latinoamérica) in Lima. This high-profile event will gather representatives from major opera houses, cultural institutions, and media outlets from across the Ibero-American region.
