The opera Yerma, a production by the Auditorio de Tenerife directed by Paco Azorín, is vying for the Best Rediscovered Work award at the prestigious International Opera Awards. The list of finalists was recently announced by the organization of these awards, founded in 2012 to celebrate operatic excellence worldwide.
This work is based on the score by Heitor Villa-Lobos, inspired by the homonymous play by Federico García Lorca. Its European premiere took place in October 2025 at the Symphonic Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife, featuring a new critical edition of the score revised by Luiz Fernando Malheiro, marking an absolute re-premiere.
The awards ceremony will be held on November 21st at the MusikTheater an der Wien in Austria. The production of Yerma has already received two Talía Awards 2026 from the Spanish Academy of Performing Arts: for best lyrical spectacle and best costume design.
“"We are very proud of the fruits that Opera de Tenerife is yielding in general and this production in particular through the recognition of the sector and the support of the public. The hard work done locally, but with an international background and vision, is rewarded with this type of news; that is why I congratulate all the technical and administrative teams of the Auditorium who made the production of Yerma possible. I wish all the finalists the best of luck because I know firsthand the effort required in such a complete and complex artistic discipline."
Minister José Carlos Acha expressed his pride in the production's local and international recognition, highlighting the efforts of the technical and administrative teams. He also acknowledged the co-producers: the Amazonas Opera Festival (Manaus, Brazil) and the Teatro La Zarzuela of Madrid.
The opera Yerma, composed in 1956, has had few performances. Its world premiere did not occur until 1971 at the Santa Fe Opera (USA), twelve years after Villa-Lobos' death. In that premiere, the title role was performed by soprano Mirna Lacambra.
The recovery of this European premiere featured musical direction by Luiz Fernando Malheiro and stage direction, dramaturgy, and scenography by Paco Azorín. The creative team included Riccardo Benfatto (assistant stage director), Carlos Martos de la Vega (dramaturgy and stage movement), Pedro Chamizo (video design), Pedro Yagüe (lighting), and Blanca Torres Cazallas (historical-psychological advice).
The cast in Tenerife, under the musical direction of Luiz Fernando Malheiro and Pablo Urbina, included sopranos Berna Perles and María Miró in the role of Yerma. They were joined by tenor Alejandro Roy (Juan), baritone Javier Castañeda (Víctor), mezzo-soprano Anna Gomà (María), mezzo-soprano María José Montiel (Dolores), and tenor Alberto Ballesta (macho). Other roles were performed by Belén Elvira, Guadalupe Barrientos, Alexandra Urquiola, Zayra Ruiz, Marga Cloquell, and Carmen Mateo.
Ópera de Tenerife is an initiative of the Cabildo Insular, through the Auditorio de Tenerife, with sponsorship from the Canarian Institute for Cultural Development of the Government of the Canary Islands and the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music (INAEM) of the Government of Spain.
