Cambio madre

The story of a husband and wife who want to divorce and discuss this with their children for the first time.  

World premiere of the chamber opera by Frank Nuyts Cambio madre por moto to an original libretto by the best-selling Spanish author Rosa Montero. This was the final commission that Gerard Mortier submitted as intendant of the Madrid Opera (Teatro Real). Following Mortier’s departure from Spain in 2013, the opera was removed from the repertory and after his death in 2014 remained lying in a drawer for a long time.

Ten years later, Flanders Festival Ghent presents the world premiere of Cambio, in collaboration with Muziektheater Transparant, the Dutch ensemble Asko|Schönberg, and soloists from the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, under the musical direction of Benjamin Haemhouts and directed by the young Belgian director Aïda Gabriëls.

With a light touch and in contemporary Spanish, Rosa Montero’s libretto tells the story of a husband and wife who want to divorce and discuss this with their children for the first time. To make matters worse, the husband’s mother and the lawyer turn up. The latter is a family friend and a specialist divorce lawyer, but he turns out to be rather closer to the mother than expected… So plenty of ingredients for incisive dialogues full of familiar arguments back and forth. “The children come first!” is the parents’ mantra, but whether this is actually the case remains to be seen… 

Credits

Libretto: Rosa Montero.

Composition: Frank Nuyts.

Direction: AÏda Gabriëls.

Musical direction: Benjamin Haemhouts.

Ensemble: Asko|Schönberg.

and Solisten Muziekkapel Koningin Elizabeth.