The Indian Queens

In the organizer's words:

A post-colonial semi-opera by Colectivo Yama with music by Henry Purcell

after John Dryden & Robert Howard

Spanish version of the play translated by Miriam Denger

A story of love and revenge with a power-hungry "Queen of the Aztecs" at the center - this could be a summary of Henry Purcell's rarely performed baroque opera "The Indian Queen". The artists and authors of the group "Colectivo Yama" from Ecuador, Carlina Derks Bustamante and Natalia Ortiz, take Purcell's work as an opportunity to tell the story of the actual indigenous "queens" of their country: Women have always led indigenous resistance against colonial and neoliberal exploitation of people and nature. While the semi-opera by Purcell and its author John Dryden was a stereotypical plot about war and intrigue in an exoticized setting, "The Indian Queens" is a powerful fable about resistance and the vision of a successful coexistence - today's "Indian queens" have their say and their struggle is given a face. Purcell's music is combined with a new text, traditional music from the Andes and baroque music with documentary film footage and opera with drama.

#pressreviews:

"There is something fascinating about the energy of Colectivo Yama."
Aachener Zeitung

"A convincing plea that operas can be treated a little more freely."
Deutschlandfunk Kultur

"A highly emotional conclusion to an opera project that demonstrates the political
the political insignificance of the standard repertoire."
nachtkritik

"After the premiere of the evening, now entitled "The Indian Queens", which was celebrated by the audience, the visitor takes home a number of pleasing things. And that is an explicit recommendation to go to the theater again."
Aachener Zeitung

"And everything flows together into a total work of art, which is repeatedly interspersed with songs from South America, which are then accompanied by very groovy music from the pit."
Aachener Zeitung

"Very excellently played and conducted."

Deutschlandfunk Kultur

"Under the direction of Kapellmeister Jori Klomp, everything vibrates wonderfully, the long neck of the lute protrudes far out of the pit, recorders nasalize lovingly, the distinctive baroque trumpet sound is incomparable."
Aachener Zeitung

"The musical side is in the hands of Jori Klom, who leads the Aachen Symphony Orchestra, which plays excellently on period instruments, to a lively and finely nuanced performance of baroque music."
nmz

"Overall, however, this production is convincing, not only because of its clear message and topicality, but also because of the successful scenic and musical realization."
nmz