The performance, starting at 7:00 PM, is part of the Ópera en minúscula (Opera in Miniature) program, included in the pre-season of Ópera de Tenerife. This initiative by the Cabildo Insular, through the Auditorio de Tenerife, is sponsored by the Instituto Canario de Desarrollo Cultural of the Government of the Canary Islands and the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music (INAEM) of the Spanish Government. The third edition of Ópera en minúscula also features the collaboration of the City Council of La Laguna.
Svadba, sung in Serbian, narrates the night before a wedding, where the bride celebrates her last night of singlehood with her friends. Through conversations, pagan rituals, and celebrations, the singers deploy a sound palette that includes Balkan folk voice, extreme vocal techniques, whispers, and onomatopoeic rhythmic patterns.
The work poetically explores the traditions and rituals of the Serbian wedding ceremony. The bride, Milica, prepares for her big day with her five friends, channeling emotions ranging from excitement to nervousness through dances and songs. Ancestors appear in dreams, connecting the contemporary and ancestral worlds. The seven scenes unfold on a beach by the Atlantic Ocean, integrating the physical and spiritual landscape.
The women reflect on the duality of marriage: the end of one life stage and the beginning of another. Rites such as preparing henna for Milica's hair are mentioned. The protagonist immerses herself in a dream, entering a fantasy world with her fiancé, as tension grows. Milica's friends represent a battle of gender roles, and the maid of honor Ljubica begins to feel jealous.
Ana Sokolović is internationally recognized for her rhythmic and imaginative music. Born in Serbia, her work spans operas, orchestral pieces, solo, and chamber works. Her fascination with diverse arts is reflected in her collaborations with choreographers, dancers, and playwrights. Her operas have been presented on stages such as the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. Her opera Svadba won the Dora Mavor Moor award for «outstanding new opera».
Tickets are priced at a general rate of 10 euros and are available on the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com, at the Auditorio de Tenerife box office, and by phone. They can also be purchased one hour before the show at the Espacio La Granja box office. Discounts are available for students, the unemployed, and large families.
