La Hija de Escipion

MM: Mastropiero's operatic production surprises with its remarkable coherence. Despite the diversity of his dramas, comedies, tragedies, when hearing a fragment of any Mastropiero opera, one immediately recognizes the composer's hand. For his style, for his expressive force, and above all, because the music is always the same. Even in the rehearsals of his latest operas, he gathered the singers and instead of handing out scores, he only distributed the lyrics. For example, from his opera 'The Torment of Sor Angelica,' the text of the soprano aria 'Stay away from me, for I am purer than the angels' is preserved, with the following handwritten note from Mastropiero: 'Sing it to the melody of my previous opera: The Courtesan of Lamermore. The one that says: come closer, my love, for I am more fickle than the birds.' As the music critic Harold Shönstein wrote: 'all of Mastropiero's operas bear his seal. The way he composes operas is a true 'modus operandi' like famous criminals. Or rather, like other famous criminals. Therefore, the critic concludes, I will not comment on his premieres anymore, I will send the police reporter.' Shortly after, the following chronicle of a Mastropiero opera appeared in the newspaper, it says: 'As the curtain rises, the tenor appears: male, small build, and showing signs of being drunk, he confronts the soprano: robust build, undefined gender, and demands to resume their relationship. She refuses, uttering screams and wild shouts, as if singing. In response, the aforementioned, in a state of violent emotion, pulls a caliber pistol from his clothes and fires at point-blank range with an entry hole in the abdomen and exit hole... and exit hole. Then, repentant for the crime, he takes the soprano in his arms, approximately one-third of her. The victim recovers satisfactorily from her wounds and, determined to forgive him, embraces him tightly. The tenor lets out a strident high B-flat that, 'prima facie,' would be a cry for help. The scene ends without any victims or material damage.' This scene is precisely the one we will not hear next, as none of the members of Les Luthiers agreed to play the role of the soprano. The chamber instrumentalists also refused to interpret it. Instead, we will perform a fragment of another Mastropiero opera, but with the same music. It is the scene of Daniel the Seducer, at the window of Juana Maria del Sagrado Corazon, from his opera, 'Scipio's Daughter.'

DR: I am Daniel, the seducer
And to the very beautiful Juana
I come to sing my love
At the foot of her window

Chorus: Hurry, sir, for her father wakes at dawn

DR: I will finish before it dawwwwns

Chorus: Hurry, sir

DR: Before it dawwwwns... I can't go any faster!

Chorus: Start already

DR: Juana, I know it's late
I hope you can forgive me
Look out, chaste Juana
Look out the window

Chorus: She hasn't heard you, you must get her attention

DR: (gesturing)
I am Daniel, the seducer
And I have come to sing my love to you
And I have come to sing my love to you
JUANAAA!!!!

JM: She can't hear you, her father, Scipio, can

DR: I don't fear the anger of an old man

CNC: It's madness to defy the prohibition
To court Juana Maria del Sagrado Corazon
The noblest, the purest
Scipio's daughter

DR: I don't fear that old fool

JM: Scipio earned his fame fighting against the infidels and
that's why the people call him Scipio the a...

DR: I don't care

JM: ... Scipio the a...

DR: I'm not interested

CNC: Tell him, tell him!!

JM: No, if he's not interested, he's not interested...

CNC: Tell him!

JM: ...the bloodthirsty murderer

DR: I wouldn't want to bother him

CNC: Sing to her, now is your chance.
Juana's shadow is clearly seen in the window

Chorus: Scipio killed 42 individuals
because he felt they disrespected his daughter

DR: I am Daniel, the respectful seducer
And I have come to sing my love
I adore her hand-no-no-no-no
I adore her hair-hair-hair-hair
I adore her mouth... as well

Chorus: Her father has awakened
CNC: Just seeing him terrifies me
Chorus: Pretend you're a dog

DR: Woof, woof, woof...

CLP: He's gone... gone, gone.
DR: Juana, I know it's late
I hope you can forgive me

CNC: Scipio heard something
He harbors some suspicion
Chorus: Pretend you're a friend

DR: I am your friend Leonor
And I have come to sing my love!!!

Chorus: You haven't fooled him, with a threatening gesture
he has drawn his sword
Pretend you're a bird
Sing like the cuckoo

DR: What?

Chorus: The cuckoo
DR: cuckoo, cuckoo... I've never seen a cuckoo

Chorus: The crane, the starling

DR: Woof, woof

Chorus: No, some bird

DR: Is the hen a bird?
co co co the hen sings co co co, that's the rooster cock-a-doodle-doo, the hen co co... how are you doing
How are you doing Mr. Scipio? What a nice pajama! How elegant you look! You look like the jack of spades. What are you doing around here, at this time of night?

MM: Hunting hens
I'll kill you, hen!

DR: Meow! Woof! Moo!!!....

MM: Only a prince can court
Juana Maria del Sagrado Corazon
The noblest, the purest
Scipio's daughter

DR: You don't understand my situation
I had an illusion, naive and sincere
I longed to be with her, even for a moment, even if only
But now I understand it was a pipe dream

MM: Your sincerity has moved me
I never deceive people
I see you are of noble blood
and also honest and brave
By my faith, you shall have what you asked for

DR: And what did I ask for?

MM: Juana will be your wife

DR: See, Mr. Scipio, allow me to call you 'Sci'.

MM: You can call me 'Pa'.

DR: See Mr...Pa...I am not noble

MM: Money also gives nobility

DR: But I am very poor, and my family too. We have been dragging this painful economic situation for years

MM: I like your frankness.
You will marry Juana,
I trust my decision.
You will have a Christian wedding

DR: There is something else, I am Jewish

MM: Whoever does not listen or dialogue has
an empty heart,
get married in the synagogue,
but let not a single Jew attend

DR: But if I go, there will be one...

MM: No buts or sermons
I too was young once
and I understand that when one loves
there should be, there should be, there should be
nooooooo... what a lower note.... conditioooons

DR: But then do you consent to our relationship?

MM: Yes

DR: Without conditions?

MM: Yes, yes

DR: And can I finish my song?

MM: Oh, you'll make me emotional

DR: Juana, I know it's late
I hope you can forgive me
Every night we spend in your bed is wonderful
But today I can't stay
Because my wife is waiting for me

MM: Daughter, I am outraged
Is this what you have learned?
From all that I have taught you?
I don't care if they are Jews
I don't care if they are poor
What angers me is that you don't charge them!!