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World premiere by the Ballet Nacional de España on 9th December 2017 at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid (Spain).
Why Electra?
"Whenever I face a new project I try to listen to my intuition and look for common points between its theme and my own creative world, my imagery, my roots. So, when I had the chance to put on Electra for the Ballet Nacional de España I pictured the story in rural, deepest Spain that has inspired and fascinated me since I was a child. Even though the plot is more than two thousand years away from us, its visceral feelings and beauty acted as a magnet that led me to our own popular, Spanish, Mediterranean culture. Attempting to return dance and choir to the place we believe they had in classical tragedies, as an element that unifies ideas and emotions, Electra, beyond styles or disciplines, is to me the continuation of the creative path I started as a choreographer years ago. Electra is a human and sensory experience in which movement, space, light, music, and voice are all part of a whole."
Antonio Ruz
Director and choreographer: Antonio Ruz
Choreography collaborator: Olga Pericet
Music: Pablo Martín Caminero, Moisés P. Sánchez and Diego Losada
Dramaturgy and lyrics: Alberto Conejero
Stage Designer: Paco Azorín
Costume Designer: Rosa García Andújar
Lighting Designer: Olga García (A.A.I.)
Guest Artist: Sandra Carrasco
Special Collaboration: Antonio Najarro
Music recording: Manuel Coves, music director
Orquesta de la Comunicad de Madrid (ORCAM)
BNE flamenco musicians
Assistant Director: Lucia Bernardo
Props: Daniela Presta
Hairdressing: Pepe Juez
Make up: Roberto Siguero
Women’s Costume Maker: Milagros González
Men’s Costume Maker: Gabriel Besa
Props maker: Readest
Set makers: Mambo decorados, Esfumato, May. Servicios para el espectáculo, Natalia Vicente
Dyeing: Tinte Universal
Shoes: Gallardo
Prologue: Una fotografía de familia
Choreography: Antonio Ruz and Olga Pericet (Alboreá)
Music: Pablo M. Caminero and Diego Losada (Alboreá)
Lyrics: Alberto Conejero
It is the day of the wedding of Iphigenia, daughter of King Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, to the warrior Achilles. Orestes and Electra, the couple’s other two children, are also present. Just as the ceremony is about to take place, Agamemnon drags Iphigenia away from the altar. It is then revealed that the supposed wedding to Achilles is a deception intended to bring the young woman there so that she can be sacrificed. According to the oracle of the seer Calchas, only through the girl’s death will the Greek ships be able to reach Troy. Despite his terrible doubts, Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter. Years later, when Agamemnon returns victorious from the Trojan War, Clytemnestra decides to avenge her daughter’s death. With the help of her lover Aegisthus, she murders her husband in the palace.
First scene: Electra es una campesina
Choreography: Antonio Ruz
Music: Moisés P. Sanchez
Seven years have passed since Agamemnon’s death. Electra now lives in a hut far from the palace. Her mother Clytemnestra has married her to a shepherd to prevent her from producing noble descendants. Although he is in love with her, the man does not have relations with the young woman because he knows that she does not return his feelings. In vain, he tries to cheer Electra’s heart and drive away the dark thoughts that torment her…
Second scene: El agua nada se lleva
Choreography: Olga Pericet and Antonio Ruz
Music: Pablo M. Caminero
Lyrics: Alberto Conejero
Electra leaves the hut and goes to a fountain to fetch fresh water. There she encounters other peasant women, who murmur and whisper when they see the daughter of kings in such a state. Overcome with anguish, Electra breaks the pitcher and runs away. The women stare at the young woman in horror, as though they had seen a ghost…
Third scene: La pesadilla de Clitemnestra
Choreography: Antonio Ruz
Music: Pablo M. Caminero and Diego Losada (Petenera)
Lyrics: Alberto Conejero
In the palace, Clytemnestra sleeps beside her lover. In her dreams, she is visited first by Iphigenia, wearing her bloodstained wedding dress, and then by her husband Agamemnon. Clytemnestra’s scream awakens the entire palace. Aegisthus tries to calm her before leaving the room. The servants dress Clytemnestra in sumptuous garments and the jewels of the royal fortune. Her gaze remains distant, still terrified by her nightmare.
Fourth scene: Electra baila con la ausencia de su padre
Choreography: Antonio Ruz
Music: Moisés P. Sanchez and Diego Losada (Temporera)
Lyrics: Alberto Conejero
Night falls. Electra visits Agamemnon’s tomb and leaves an offering there. The young woman dances with the absence of her father. Suddenly, two strangers arrive. Electra tries to flee, but one of the men holds her back. Only then does she recognise her brother Orestes. He has returned from exile, accompanied by his loyal friend Pylades. After celebrating their reunion, they agree to kill their mother in revenge for their father’s murder. Pylades is struck by the young woman’s beauty.
Fifth scene: La cacería de Aegisthus
Choreography: Antonio Ruz
Music: Moisés P. Sanchez
In the countryside, Aegisthus’s men celebrate the successes of the day’s hunt. They have been drinking, and some struggle to remain on their feet. Aegisthus enters. The men cheer and applaud their leader. Orestes and Pylades arrive. Aegisthus invites them to join the festivities. In the midst of the celebration, Orestes murders his mother’s new husband. Together with Pylades, he manages to escape after killing almost all the men.
Sixth scene: Ya soy Electra
Choreography: Antonio Ruz and Olga Pericet (Ayeos and fandango)
Music: Moisés P. Sanchez and Pablo M. Caminero (Ayeos and fandango)
Lyrics: Alberto Conejero
Dusk is falling. Electra prepares to leave the hut and go to the palace to complete the revenge alongside her brother. The Peasant catches up with her and tries to stop her, but the young woman manages to escape. As she runs, Electra crosses paths with the women. They all murmur in horror and make the sign of the cross. They sense what is about to happen. A swarm of prayers, voices and castanets fills the air. But nothing can stop Electra.
Seventh scene: La muerte de Clitemnestra
Choreography: Antonio Ruz
Music: Pablo M. Caminero
Lyrics: Alberto Conejero
Clytemnestra is distressed because Aegisthus has not returned from the countryside and night has already fallen. The servants undress her. She orders them to leave the room. Remorse and fear overwhelm her. She closes the doors and windows. Suddenly, the room seems to fill with presences: men and women who cast accusing looks at her and point her out. The doors fly open. Orestes and Electra enter. She begs for mercy and shows her son the breast that once nourished him. Orestes strokes his mother’s neck and strangles her. Clytemnestra falls dead. Bells toll in mourning.
Epilogue: Electra se llama la novia
Choreography: Antonio Ruz
Music: traditional
The wedding of Pylades and Electra is celebrated. Everything recalls the opening scene: the same welcoming flashes of light, the same strange joy. As though Clytemnestra’s murder had already been forgotten. But remorse consumes Orestes. He senses the presence of all the dead around him: Agamemnon, Iphigenia, Aegisthus, Clytemnestra… Only he seems able to see them. Only he appears to be tormented by the Furies… And everything ends only to begin again.