Event

The House of Bernarda Alba

Xara Choral Theatre Ensemble presents a new choral theatre adaptation of Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorcas iconic play The House of Bernarda Alba. Joining the award-winning ensemble will be acclaimed actor Martha Irving and emerging artist Morgan Melnyk, collaborating to bring the character of Bernarda to life.

In a house in Andalusia, Spain, five women are ruled by the iron fist of their mother, Bernarda. They are grieving the loss of their father, and Bernarda has forced them into an eight year mourning period that includes a ban on any romantic relationships of their own choosing. Each of the daughters struggles to find her own agency in a drama rich with repression, passion, and conformity.

The House of Bernarda Alba showcases contemporary choral music in Spanish and Latin by Canadian composers Nancy Telfer and Stephen Hatfield, as well as pieces by Scandinavian composers Einojuhani Rautavaara and Thomas Jennefelt, and Basque composer Eva Ugalde. The performance will feature a dynamic lighting and set design by Matthew Downey, and costume design by Dan Bray.

Xara Choral Theatre provides a professional artistic environment for women and an innovative approach to choral performance that is remaking the idea of the choir. Led by Co-Artistic Directors Christina Murray and Claire Leger, Xaras work is gaining national and international recognition as an emerging inter-arts genre featuring stories and myths told through a rich tapestry of challenging choral repertoire, movement, lighting, spoken word, and visual elements. In July 2013, Canadas national choral competition proclaimed Xara the top womens choir in the country. Their 2015 album, Here On These Branches, was recently nominated for an ECMA.

Xara Choral Theatre is generously supported by Arts Nova Scotia, Business for the Arts, and the Department of Canadian Heritage. We are pleased to work in partnership to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.