Editorial Mondigromax
Alexina B.
Alexina B.
Raquel García-Tomás
Opera
Music by Raquel García-Tomás
Libretto by Irène Gayraud
Stage direction by Marta Pazos
Approximate running time: 2 hours / Three acts
Original language: French
Chamber orchestra, 20 musicians: 6 violins, first and second, 3 violas, 2 cellos, 2 double basses, flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon, horn, harp, piano, electronic music, video projections and amplified sound.
World premiere March 18, 20, 21 and 22, 2023 Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona
The memoirs of Hérculine Barbin, Mes Souvenirs (France, 1868), have inspired this opera. The story of this intersex person, also known as Alexina B., born in 1838 becomes a fascinating artistic mirror reflecting our social behavior, where even the well thought of people must deal with a vast amount of prejudices. The result has been this amazing opera, where music, libretto, voices, light, and all that happens on stage contain boundless emotion. As we experimented in Barcelona at the session for a young audience “Under 35”, they were delighted, not only because of its story, which plays a captivating role but also because they discovered a genre “Wow! This is Opera!”
We witnessed the audiences’ reaction to the absolute première of Alexina B., a standing ovation for 10 minutes, and every artist coming to the stage received warm applause. This doesn’t happen every day in Barcelona’s Liceu.
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Hand Program in Catalan with English synopsis at page 47.
The Score will be available at www.editorialmondigromax.com
Televisión Española, TVE, recorded “Alexina B.” and it was broadcast on Sunday, July 2, 2023 as the closing of Pride week. Available online for one month. (Only available in Spain).
At the premiere at Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona
Creatives
Scenography Max Glaenzel
Costume Design Silvia Delagneau
Lighting Nuno Meira
Choreography Maria Cabeza de Vaca
Video Raquel García-Tomás
Sound Sixto Cámara
Stage director assistant Ana Cuéllar Velasco
Production Gran Teatre del Liceu
Project carried out with the Leonardo Scholarship for Cultural Researchers and Creators 2020 from the BBVA Foundation
Cast
Alexina Barbin / Abel Barbin Lidia Vinyes-Curtis
Sara Alice Love
The Policeman / Madame P. / Alexina’s Mother / Sister Marie des Anges Elena Copons
Doctor Goujon / The Doctor / Doctor H. / The Abbot / Monsignor / The Judge Xavier Sabata
Alexina young / Léa / Pupil of the Convent / Student of the Boarding School Mar Esteve
Convent pupils / Boarding School Students Choir Vivaldi-Petits Cantors of Catalonia
Conductor of Cor Vivaldi-Petits Cantors of Catalonia Òscar Boada
Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu
Conducted by Ernest Martínez Izquierdo
Some headlines
“Alexina”, standing ovation at the Liceu. TV3
“Alexina B.” has connected with classical and modern audiences. The play puts us in front of the mirror of condemnation and prejudice. March 29, 2023
The Liceo premieres a surprising opera by Raquel García-Tomás. March 18, 2023. Pep Gorgory. ABC
…this opera has all the elements to become a repertory opera. April 1, 2023. Antonio Hernandez Nieto. Sulponticello. Online music and sound art magazine.
The Barcelona composer mixes references to Franz Liszt and Hildegard von Bingen to show the religious reality that was lived at the time with electronic music. March 20, 2023, Cristina Martin Valbuena | The NBP-The New Barcelona Post
