A baroque zarzuela jewel is reborn in Tenerife after three centuries of silence

The Leal Theater hosts the modern premiere of a work by Juan Hidalgo that had not been performed since 1673.

Interior of a historic theater with warm lighting and a stage prepared for a performance.
IA

Interior of a historic theater with warm lighting and a stage prepared for a performance.

The Leal Theater in La Laguna hosts this weekend the modern premiere of a baroque zarzuela by Juan Hidalgo, recovered after more than three centuries of oblivion.

The work, titled Los celos hacen estrellas y el amor hace prodigios, represents a cultural milestone for Tenerife. Following an exhaustive research process that allowed for the reconstruction of the score and libretto from manuscripts scattered across various institutions, the piece returns to the stage under the musical direction of a baroque repertoire expert.
The production, promoted by the Auditorio de Tenerife, combines historical rigor with a contemporary staging that utilizes 3D technology. The artistic team had to complete fragments of the work based on historical knowledge, given that much of the original material was lost in the 1734 fire at the Alcázar of Madrid.
The show features a ten-piece ensemble using period instruments to recreate the sound of the 17th century. The plot, based on Ovid's Metamorphoses, narrates a mythological conflict between Jupiter and Juno, offering a courtly entertainment that is now being recovered for modern audiences.