A Capella Opera Performance of Svadba This Saturday
The Espacio La Granja will host the opera Svadba (The Wedding) this Saturday, 19 November, featuring a performance by six singers. The show, composed by Ana Sokolović in 2010, begins at 19:00 and is part of the Ópera en minúscula programme.
This lyrical work is included in the pre-season schedule of the Ópera de Tenerife, supported by the Cabildo through the Auditorio de Tenerife, along with sponsorship from the Canarian Institute of Cultural Development and Spain’s National Institute of Performing Arts and Music. This third edition of Ópera en minúscula also involves collaboration from La Laguna’s local council.
Svadba, sung in Serbian, unfolds on the night before a wedding as the bride celebrates with her closest friends. They engage in rituals and conversation while reminiscing about their friendship and preparing the bride for marriage. The performance fuses operatic elements with Balkan folk styles, featuring a variety of vocal techniques that create a vibrant soundscape.
The opera artistically explores Serbian wedding traditions as the bride, Milica, and her friends navigate a mix of excitement and anxiety through decorations, dances, games, and songs. Ancestors appear in dreams, linking the contemporary with the ancestral world. The seven scenes are set on a beach by the Atlantic, incorporating natural elements into the story.
Amidst the celebrations, Milica and her bridesmaids reflect on the transition from singlehood to married life. One of the characters, Lena, prepares henna for the bride, marking a rite of passage. As the evening progresses, Milica grapples with her feelings at the water’s edge, entering a dream with her fiancé. The narrative tension intensifies, blurring lines between playful roles and deeper conflicts, as jealousy arises among Milica’s friends.
Ana Sokolović has gained international acclaim for her rhythmic and imaginative music, which spans operas and critically acclaimed orchestral works. Originally from Serbia, she began her artistic journey in ballet before turning to music and theatre. Her impressive body of work has led to collaborations with numerous artists and performances worldwide, including at London’s Royal Opera House and the San Francisco Opera. Her opera Svadba earned the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best New Opera.
Tickets for the performance are priced at 10 euros and can be purchased on the Auditorio website, at the box office from Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 17:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00. They can also be booked by phone at 902 317 327. Tickets will be available an hour before the show at the Espacio La Granja box office, with discounts offered for students, the unemployed, and large families.
