York: UK premier of opera written in 18th century Jesuit Missions

The first UK concert performance of the Indigenous early 18th Century Baroque Sacred Opera, San Francisco Xavier - the first opera ever written in an Indigenous language (Chiquitano) - will be performed by El Parnaso Hyspano, at York's prestigious National Centre For Early Music on Thursday, 13th June.

This opera was written in the Bolivian Jesuit Missions. This performance is informed by recent field research undertaken by Rafael Montero (who will sing the title role). He recently attended a performance in the very church for which it was first written and interviewed some of the people involved.

This free performance and panel discussion is part of York's annual Festival of Ideas, and is taking place in connection with an International Conference on Sound Faith: Religion and the Acoustic World, 1400-1800 convened by the Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies of the University of York, and co-sponsored by the Centre for Indigenous and Settler Colonial Studies.

Taking part in the panel discussion after the 30 minute performance will be Michael Walling, Artistic Director of Border Crossings, who will be directing a staged production of this opera in London in November 2024, in partnership with El Parnaso Hyspano, as the centrepiece of an arts and heritage project, involving London's Latin American Community, The Mouth of the Gods.

The stellar lineup will be Kate Smith (soprano), Rafael Montero (tenor), Edmund Taylor and Joana Praça (violins). Miriam Nohl (cello/gamba), Emilia Agajew (baroque harp) and Johnny F Rodriguez (indigenous percussion).

Tickets are free, and can be pre-booked at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/.../san-francisco-xavier/

(On Friday, 28 June, El Parnaso Hyspano and members of Divertissements Chinoise will be performing Baroque Music of the Jesuits from South America and China, at Farm Street Church in London.

More information coming soon. For booking details see: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/silver-and-silk-baroque-music-of-the-jesuits-from-latin-america-and-china-tickets-890977988147?aff=oddtdtcreator )