La piccola Cubana
after themes from Miguel Barnet
New version for studio theatre
Scene of action: La Habana
Time of action: 1959/60 (Background story)
1906 Tivoli 1910 Komet 1914 Circus 1927 Alhambra
1934 Farewell
Comment
In 1990/91 Hans Magnus Enzensberger and I wrote a reduced version of the television opera “La Cubana” intended in particular for stage performances that require fewer cha- racters (only singers) and significantly fewer instrumentalists. A single stage set sparsely decorated is sufficient. The piece takes place in Rachel’s flat shortly after the outbreak of the Cuban revolution. As well as a chamber ensemble, the piece requires, at most, only two actresses and two actors who may each play several secondary roles:
The reviewer/the telescope hirer/the senator/ the old man/Eusebio/Yarini/Paco/Federico/ Ofelia/Lucile
These actors/ actresses also play the parts of the witnesses who address the audience directly.
Hans Werner Henze
Cast
| Rachel | soprano | a Caribbean beauty |
| Ofelia | parte parlata | Rachel’s maid |
| Eusebio | tenore | a young man from a wealthy family |
| Lucile | mezzosoprano | a young whore |
| Yarini | a pimp | |
| Paco | a circus artist | |
| Federico | a student | |
| a critic | ||
| declamato intonato | a telescope hirer | |
| Der Cimarrón | a blackman | |
| a senator | ||
| an old man |
Instrumentation
| 1 Sassofono soprano | anche Sassofono contralto e Sassofono tenore |
| 1 Clarinetto | |
| 1 Tromba | |
| 1 Trombone | |
| Mandolino | anche Banjo tenore |
| Chitarra | |
| Percussione | [per 1] |
| Pianoforte | anche Pianoforte preparato ad lib. |
| 1 Contrabbasso |