Ainadamar, an astonishing explosion of love, loss, poetry, music, dance, war and the power of memory…

Ainadamar brilliantly reimagines the life of poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, whose politics and sexuality led to his brutal execution during the Spanish Civil War. His story comes to life with startling beauty in this electrifying show. Osvaldo Golijov’s Grammy-award winning cinematic score grabs you from the very first beat – weaving together influences from around the world in a mesmerising mixture of opera and the traditional song and dance of Andalusia.

“This 80-minute piece of music theater is a quiet spellbinder, an astonishing demonstration of how an opera can sound completely contemporary yet still convey its message in very potent lyrical song.” Peter G. Davis, New York Magazine

About Ainadamar

Love, loss, and death emerge through the memories of Margarita Xirgu (Lauren Fagan), muse and friend of Lorca (Samantha Hankey). As Margarita tells their story to her student Nuria (Julieth Lozano), Ainadamar looks ahead to Lorca’s legacy as an artistic martyr and reflects on his life and works.

Olivier Award-winning choreographer and director Deborah Colker, renowned for her work with Cirque du Soleil, makes her hotly anticipated opera debut, bringing her signature grit, energy and passion to the stage.

‘Deborah Colker’s production of Ainadamar with Scottish Opera and Opera Ventures is, for me, a revelation full of revelations. I was blown away by the great current of energy made by an ever-evolving counterpoint between music, dance, light and set design. I was, and still am, deeply moved by the coalescence of tragedy and beauty in this production.’ — Osvaldo Golijov, composer of Ainadamar

This thrilling new production, in its first fully-staged UK production of a truly 21st century opera, builds on Opera Ventures’ long-term partnership with Scottish Opera (Breaking the Waves 2019, Greek 2017)), joined by co-producers.

The Team

Composer: Osvaldo Golijov

Libretto: David Henry Hwang

Creative Team

Conductor: Stuart Stratford

Director/Choreographer: Deborah Colker

Designer: Jon Bausor

Lighting Designer: Paul Keogan

Video Designer: Tal Rosner

Flamenco Choreographer: Antonio Najarro

Assistant Director: Fernanda Cavalcanti

Sound designer: Cameron Crosby

The Cast

Margarita Xirgu Lauren Fagan

Federico García Lorca Samantha Hankey

Nuria Julieth Lozano

Ruiz Alonso Alfredo Tejada José

Tripaldi John Savournin

Torero Dan Shelvey

Maestro Colin Murray

Solo Nina 1 Annie Riley

Solo Nina 2 Lea Shaw

Ainadamar is a co-production between Opera Ventures, Scottish Opera, Detroit Opera, The Metropolitan Opera and Welsh National Opera.