EL OTRO DEL 27

Tatuaje, Ojos verdes, Y sin embargo te quiero, A tu vera, Rocío, La Zarzamora, María de la O … *coplas* that coloured that Spain; stories of the people for the people, written by Rafael de León, Marquis of Valle de la Reina, Count of Gómara, the Sevillian nobleman who renounced his titles to follow in the footsteps of his friend Federico García Lorca and devote himself to poetry, until another genius crossed his path — the Sevillian composer Manuel Quiroga — and persuaded him to write the lyrics for his songs; more than eight thousand, in his own words. “A vulgar lyricist” to some, a poetic genius to others; the intellectual who recited Horace and the nocturnal reveller, the serious Sevillian and the scandalous queer… the most remembered of the forgotten, and vice versa.

Pedro Casablanc embodies Rafael de León, one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in twentieth-century Spanish culture, who returns to tell us a story that wounds and heals us, confronts us and reconciles us, and opens up a debate about what has until now been considered “high culture” as opposed to popular culture. The music is provided by Juan Valderrama, who also steps into the role of Federico García Lorca. Carlos de Austria will play Manuel Quiroga, and the Jaén-born Roko will portray Imperio Argentina and Margarita Xirgu. They are accompanied by outstanding musicians, all under the direction of Santiago Sánchez and Víctor Lucas.