MARI-ELI

Premiere of the zarzuela Mari-Eli by Jesús Guridi, a new production by Teatro Arriaga made with the special collaboration of Fundación BBK.

Mari-Eli is a very special project, born from the recovery of an original score of a little-known zarzuela by Guridi. The mere act of reclaiming the musical heritage of one of the most important Basque composers of the 20th century is already of great value as a lasting legacy, but no less important is the fact that this production brings to the stage a new show filled with artistic appeal.

On the musical side, Mari-Eli will be conducted by Jon Malaxetxebarria, who returns to lead a Teatro Arriaga production following his outstanding work on the opera *Saturraran*. The performance will feature a wonderful cast of solo voices, actors, chorus, and orchestra.

In terms of staging, our artistic director Calixto Bieito brings together various disciplines on stage to create a rich and dynamic performance.

This zarzuela by Jesús Guridi, produced by Teatro Arriaga with the special collaboration of Fundación BBK, represents a major musicological recovery.

Mari-Eli premiered in Madrid in April 1936 with a libretto by Carlos Arniches and Eloy Garay. It was later performed in Bilbao in 1941 during the Lyrical Season of the Sociedad Coral de Bilbao. The piece reveals a different side of Guridi in terms of character, while still showcasing the unmistakable quality of his musical writing. Jesús Mª Arozamena described Mari-Eli as a “zarzuela in Basque, with a sea breeze, catchy melodies and comic moments, very much in the spirit of the time.”

Musically, the composition radiates beauty. It’s a highly melodic zarzuela that at times leans stylistically toward the musical theatre genre. It features joyful choral numbers that harmonise perfectly with the themes of the songs.