In the Court of the Child Queen

When she had hardly taken her first breath, Mary Stuart was already Queen of Scotland. She was crowned just six days after her father James died for a life that bears resemblance to a novel, from beginning to end; brought up in France, embroiled in the complex conspiracies of succession for the English crown, a victim of religious wars ( a practicing Catholic in the full swing of Protestantism) and, in the end, imprisoned and decapitated by order of Queen Elizabeth I.

A schemer to some, a saint to others, the so-called Infant Queen attracted the attention of Stefan Zweig, among other authors. As with other historical figures, the Austrian writer took advantage of the biography of Mary to explore the woman beyond the personage, placing her in historical context and casting her in our times. Was she a victim of history or was she consumed in the fire she herself lit?

Irma Correa’s libretto takes Zweig’s text as a starting point to bring us closer to our reality. A contemporary atmosphere, inspired by the story of Mary Stuart, for this chamber opera. Produced by the Fundación Teatro Joven with music by Martin Hennessy and directed by José Luis Arellano. A musical adventure for today, full of emotion and dramatic force for all ages.

Chamber opera by Martin Hennessy 
Text by Irma Correa based on the biography by Stefan Zweig
Premiere on 17 March at the Real Teatro de Retiro of Madrid
For the first time at the Teatro de la Maestranza

All the programming in the Sala Manuel García is made possible thanks to the support of the Fundación Banco Sabadell.