Company

Based on a libretto by María Lejárraga (signed by Gregorio Martínez Sierra) and on the work of the same title by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, Manuel de Falla composed this ballet between 1916 and 1919. Its plot revolves around an ageing Corregidor who is captivated by the beauty of a young Miller’s Wife. The story is somewhat grotesque in tone, with the comic aspects of the different situations deliberately emphasised. At times it seems to be heading towards a tragic ending, but all ends well, and the misfortunes caused by the unfolding of this small tale do not ultimately do anyone any real harm. Admittedly, the Corregidor comes off rather badly and suffers a few bruises, but we can be sure he will recover…

The first part of the ballet takes place in and around a mill, where a young couple in love, the Miller and the Miller’s Wife, live. They are well liked by their neighbours, and everyone lives in harmony, working and, from time to time, celebrating together, as they are preparing to do when the action begins, on the day that will culminate in the festivities of Midsummer Night. From the mill, the young couple see a procession approaching: it is the Corregidor and his entourage. They make a gesture of respect as the party passes, and the Corregidor deliberately drops his gloves. The Miller’s Wife picks them up and returns them to him, at which point he notices her beauty and becomes captivated by her. The procession moves on and the young couple return to their work. A short while later, the Corregidor comes back on foot. The Millers laugh at him while, before realising that he is being mocked, he attempts to embrace the young woman, who has danced a seductive dance for him. Once the Corregidor realises that he has been made a fool of, he leaves to the laughter of the young couple. The second part of the ballet begins with the festivities on Midsummer Night. The neighbours dance and drink, but the celebrations are brought to an end by the arrival of the bailiffs, who have come on the Corregidor’s orders to arrest the Miller, leaving him unable to understand what is happening. At that moment, the Corregidor mysteriously appears, presenting himself as benevolent towards the Miller’s Wife.

In the midst of a grotesque episode, the moon disappears from view and, unable to see where he is going, the Corregidor stumbles and falls into the river, becoming completely soaked. He pursues the young woman while the Miller is no longer on stage. The Miller’s Wife hides, and the Corregidor removes his clothes, leaves them to dry and decides to spend the night at the mill. The Miller has escaped and, when he returns to the mill, sees the Corregidor’s clothes and assumes that his wife has deceived him. He puts on the Corregidor’s clothes and, when the latter wakes and discovers that his own garments have been taken, he puts on the Miller’s. The confusion deepens when the bailiffs arrest the Corregidor, mistaking him for the Miller, and later pursue the Miller, now disguised as the Corregidor.

When the neighbours finally understand what has happened, they turn on the Corregidor, who is repeatedly struck and tossed about in a blanket. Eventually, everything is cleared up and the Miller discovers that his wife has not betrayed him.

Fandango de los molineros and Danza de los vecinos (2005)