Baroque, and very down to earth

William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes were two authors who coexisted at a time in societies where the majority of people could not even read, but paradoxically, they had a more well-trained ear than we do today. Both authors needed public favour and used every means possible to connect with the public. One of these was music, and their works were often sung in a variety of versions and adaptations. Today, Baroque music classical theatre and the novels of chivalry have developed a surprising air of importance and popularity. Singer Maria Altadill, along with the actors Abel Folk and Pep Planas have come up with a show with all of the ingredients of an almost baroque festive soiree typical of the Catalan bourgeoisie for decades. The voice and the sound of that era again become accessible, without failing in respect for the work. Amor i humors (Love and Moods) will premiere today at 9:00pm at the Canal, as part of the Temporada Alta festival and in spring, move on to a season at the Teatre Romea in Barcelona.

They are only 90 minutes and this says Folk, means being “necessarily capricious,” in the choice of texts, so they have taken counsel from scholars and authors Jordi Carrión Marilena Chiara. The result is a somewhat unusual concert of recital, lecture and performance. The duet of actors is accompanied by period musicians Felipe Sanchez (vihuela and guitars), Javier Aguirre (viola da gamba) and Mikko Ikäheimo (lute) and also the singer and producer Maria Altadill.

One of the aims of the show is to reflect that intrinsic need of both Shakespeare and Cervantes to connect with the common people and so much is designed to ignore the pedestals they have come to occupy and bring them down to earth again.