Welsh National Opera - Ainadamar

Ainadamar, Arabic for ‘Fountain of Tears’, is the ancient well near Granada where the Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca – labelled by the Falangist militia as a ‘homosexual socialist’ – was brutally executed in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War.

Golijov’s twice-Grammy-winning opera reimagines Lorca’s life through a flashback of memories by his muse and collaborator, the actress Margarita Xirgu, now in her final moments in 1969 Uruguay, as she seeks to pass her generation’s hopes and passion on to her student, Nuria.

Ainadamar promises a spine-tingling spectacle from the Olivier-winning star choreographer Deborah Colker (Rio 2016 Olympics Ceremony; Cirque du Soleil) in her much-anticipated operatic debut in the director’s seat.

Forget all about your preconceptions of opera because Ainadamar will turn everything you believe on its head. Flamenco, electronic music and poetry may not be things you expect to see in an opera, but this opera makes use of it all – it’s no wonder that composer Golijov won two Grammys for it. This opera has never before been performed in Bristol, so we’re thrilled to be bringing this opera to our city for the first time. And, in another first, the Olivier-winning Deborah Colker, who choreographed the immense opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio, is making her operatic debut in the director’s seat. This is going to be a spine-tingling spectacle.

The result is a dazzling kaleidoscope of music, dance, and theatre where flamenco meets opera through traditional Spanish singing and sumptuous operatic numbers, all interspersed with rhythmic, sonic, and poetic outbursts. Ainadamar invites you to experience opera like never before.

Sung in Spanish, with surtitles in English.

Please note that we have air management systems on the lower levels of our theatre that can cool the air around you. If you are seated in these levels some visitors have recommended bringing an extra layer of clothing with you.