Gabriela Lena Frank
El
último sueño de Frida y Diego
(The Last Dream of Frida and Diego)
Piano Reduction
G. Schirmer, Inc.
New York, NY
Gabriela Lena Frank
Libretto: Nilo Cruz
El último sueño de Frida y Diego
(The Last Dream of Frida and Diego)
Piano Reduction
Commissioned and Produced by San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and DePauw University School of Music, with generous support from the University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts
G. Schirmer, Inc.
New York, NY
Instrumentation, San Diego version:
2 Flutes (1st doubling Alto Flute and Piccolo 2, 2nd doubling Piccolo 1)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in B b (2nd doubling Bass Clarinet)
2 Bassoons (2nd doubling Contrabassoon)
2 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
Percussion - 2 players
Harp
Piano (doubling Celesta)-may use upright and/or synth
Catrina - Soprano
Frida - Mezzo-soprano
Diego - Baritone
Leonardo - Countertenor
SSAATTBB chorus
Soloists:
Aldeano #1 - Baritone
Aldeano #2/Young Man - Tenor (sung by same person)
Aldeano #3 - Bass
Frida image #1 - Soprano
Frida image #2 - Mezzo-Soprano
Frida image #3 - Alto
Guadelupe Ponti - Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano
Strings
*Marimba may be shared between Percussion 1 and 2, bows are necessary.
**Xylophone may be shared between Percussion 1 and 2
Instrumentation, San Francisco version:
2 Flutes (1st doubling Alto Flute and Piccolo 2, 2nd doubling Piccolo 1)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in B b (2nd doubling Bass Clarinet)
2 Bassoons (2nd doubling Contrabassoon)
4 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
1 Trombone
Timpani
Percussion - 2 players
Harp
Piano (doubling Celesta)-may use upright and/or synth
Catrina - Soprano
Frida - Mezzo-soprano
Diego - Baritone
Leonardo - Countertenor
SSAATTBB chorus
Soloists:
Aldeano #1 - Baritone
Aldeano #2/Young Man - Tenor (sung by same person)
Aldeano #3 - Bass
Frida image #1 - Soprano
Frida image #2 - Mezzo-Soprano
Frida image #3 - Alto
Guadelupe Ponti - Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano
Strings
*Marimba may be shared between Percussion 1 and 2, bows are necessary.
**Xylophone may be shared between Percussion 1 and 2
El último sueño de Frida y Diego
(The Last Dream of Frida and Diego)
Gabriela Lena Frank Nilo Cruz
Act I, Scene 1 Se abren los caminos
[Atardecer: se oye un tañido de campana. La escena representa un cementerio en las afueras de la ciudad de México en el día de los muertos. El campo santo está lleno de ores, velas y calaveras azucaradas. Los Aldeanos se están preparando para el retorno de los Difuntos al mundo.]
[Twilight: the bells are tolling at a cemetery on the outskirts of Mexico City. The sacred grounds are full of marigolds and candles. The Villagers are anxiously awaiting the return of the Departed Souls to the world on the Day of the Dead. They hold candles and pictures of their departed loved ones.]
Misterioso q = 48
[Vemos al pintor Diego Rivera, caminando con us bastón, pensativo, enfermizo, entre los aldeanos y las tumbas. Los Aldeanos #1, 2 y 3 ven a Diego.]
[We see the painter Diego Rivera, walking with a cane, pensively, sickly, among the villagers and graves. The Male Villagers # 1, 2 and 3 see Diego.]
q = 66–69
[Después de llamar su nombre, se esconde detras del Aldeano #3.]
[After calling his name, he hides behind Villager #3.]
[Obligado a decir algo.]
[Forced to say something.]
[Diego se gira en torno a su sombra. Todos rien.]
[Diego turns to his shadow. They all laugh.]
[Los tres Aldeanos regresan al grupo de devotos. Diego
[Diego mira hacia arriba y se dirige a Frida en el otro lado del mundo.] [Diego looks up and speaks to Frida on the other side of the world.]
Longing, speaking across the divide q = 60
P delicato Xyl., celesta., harp, utes
Strings and marimba, oscillating
Longing, speaking across the divide q = 60
Strings and marimba, oscillating
[Diego cae. Los tres Aldeanos ven a Diego tumbado en el piso y lo ayudan a levantar. Una Anciana envuelta en un mantón se dirige a Diego para venderle ores.]
[Diego falls. The three Villagers see Diego lying on the oor and help him up. An Old Woman wrapped in a shawl approaches the painter to sell him some marigold owers.]
Movendo q = 60–60
[Diego desempolva sus pantalones.
[Diego dusts off his pants. ]
[A Diego le molesta este comentario. Le da dos monedas.]
[Diego is annoyed by this comment. He gives her a couple of coins.]
[Diego se siente incómodo con la presencia de ella y se va. La Anciana se descubre el rostro mostrando su verdadera identidad: Catrina, la centinela de los muertos.]
[Diego feels uncomfortable with her presence and exits. The Old Woman uncovers her face to reveal her true identity: Catrina, the keeper of the dead.]
go.
Act I, Scene 3
Act I, Scene 4 Piedad
[Baja una pared llena de jeroglí cos aztecas que nos transporta al mundo de los muertos. Desde lo alto también asciende la pamela y la sombrilla de Catrina. Ella se pone el sombrero lleno de ores, y con su sombrilla da tres golpes en el suelo.]
[A wall full of Aztec hieroglyphics descends from above and transports us to the lower world of the dead. A large hat decorated with owers and a black parasol also y down from above. Catrina takes the hat and puts it on, and with her parasol taps the oor three times.]
Regal q = 72–76
Bangs
[Los golpes últimos en el suelo y la letanía de Catrina hace que Frida Kahlo ascienda de la tierra, bajo una lluvia anaranjada de pétalos. Va vestida con una túnica gris.]
[The nal knocks on the ground and the litany sung by Catrina causes Frida Kahlo to ascend from the ground and be showered by a rain of orange petals. She is dressed in a grey tunic.]
Act I, Scene 5 El llamado
[Frida mira a su alrededor y camina.]
[Frida looks around her and walks away] If needed, repeat as necessary for scene change.
[traviesos, causando problemas] [mischievous, causing trouble]
& & V ? & ?
[En la distancia, Diego aparece encima de la pared, en una rafaga de luz. Llama a través de la division del mundo de los vivos.]
[In the distance, Diego appears above the wall under a shaft of light. He calls from across the divide from the world of the living.]
[Frida alza los ojos, y después mira hacia la distancia. Se aparece una caravana de Difuntos con fardos y baúles]
[Frida looks up, then looks into the distance. A caravan of departed Souls enters carrying bundles and trunks.]
[Las Almas Difuntas comienzan a sacar de los baúles y los fardos una serie de telas, trapos desteñidos y abrigos de otra época. Catrina camina entre los difuntos y los inspecciona con ojo clínico.]
[The departed Souls start unwrapping the bundles and opening the trunks, taking out fabrics, faded clothes and vintage coats. Catrina walks among the departed souls and inspects all of them with a clinical eye.]
Quietly exalting, mesmerized q = 52
[En la distancia, Diego aparece encima de la pared, en una rafaga de luz. Llama a través de la division del mundo de los vivos.]
[In the distance, Diego appears above the wall under a shaft of light. He calls from across the divide from the world of the living.]
[De pronto Catrina reconoce a un muchacho que se ha disfrazado para la jornada.]
[Suddenly, Catrina recognizes a YOUNG MAN who has disguised himself as a woman for the journey.]
Madly, suddenly a chase q = 136
[Catrina sale corriendo detras del Muchacho. Frida se rie y el resto del coro comienza a carcajear. Los Difuntos se entretienen vistiéndose.]
[Catrina runs after the young man. Frida laughs and the rest of the choir breaks into laughter. The departed Souls busy themselves by trying on different clothes.]
& ?
Act I, Scene 9 Memorizando la vida
[Frida camina y se detiene observando a un joven actor llamado Leonardo que ensaya una escena. Leonardo lleva una larga túnica blanca y camina en un ensueño, acariciando paredes y muebles invisibles. El actor esta interpretando a Greta Garbo en la película Queen Christina.]
[Frida walks away from the crowd and fixes her eyes on a young actor named Leonardo, who is rehearsing a scene. Leonardo is dressed in a long white silk dressing gown and walks as if in a dream, caressing invisible walls and furniture. The actor is imitating Greta Garbo in the film Queen Christina.]
Gentle q = 52–54
[Leanardo se acuesta en el suelo como si fuera una cama, para acariciar una almohada imaginaria. De pronto se da cuenta que Frida lo mira. Frida aplaude.] [Leonardo lowers himself to the oor as if it were a bed, to caress an imaginary pillow. Suddenly, he notices that Frida is observing him. Frida applauds.]
[Leonardo la guia hacia un espejo invisible para que ella pueda ver su re ejo prometedor. El asuma el papel de un estilista de alta moda que recrea su imagen. Comienza a vestirla con la ropa típica mexicana que ella usaba. Añade cintas y ores a su cabello.]
[Leanardo beckons her to an invisible mirror where she can see her promising re ection. He takes on the role of a high fashion stylist who recreates her image. He starts to dress her in the typical Mexican clothing she used to wear. He adds ribbons and owers to her hair.]
Act I, Scene 10 Pintar una nueva Frida
[Leonardo studies Frida in the mirror, straightens her blouse and tidies up her hair while humming, content.]
Act
[Catrina entra con una lista de nombres y una campanita.]
[Catrina enters holding a long list of names and a handbell.]
[Revisa su lista.] [She checks her list.]
[Frida le quita el permiso a Catrina y se lo da a él.]
[Frida takes the permit from Catrina and hands it to him.]
Anticipating
[Catrina y los Difuntos se preparan para la jornada al mundo. Frida, indecisa, se direge hacia el otro lado del espacio. Leonardo camina hacia ella.] [Catrina and the departed Souls prepare themselves for the journey to the world. Frida hesitates then walks to the other side of the space. Leonardo walks to her.]
[La pared de jeroglí cos se abre, creando un pasillo de luz. Los Difuntos comienzan a caminar por el camino de luz. Frida los ve des lar a todos.]
[The wall of hieroglyphs opens up, creating a hallway of light. The departed Souls begin to walk towards the path of light. Frida observes as they make their way out.]
[Diego llama desde el otro mundo.] [Diego calls from the other world.]
[Frida vuelve a sentir la sensación de la vida. Ella mira a sus manos, acaricia su cuello y su cuerpo llenos de vigor. Then she looks at the distance. Ella camina hacia el sendero de luz.]
[Frida feels the sensation of life once again. She looks at her hands, caresses her neck and her body full of vigor. Luego mira a la distancia. She walks toward the path of light.]
P Soprano:
[Un gran lienzo, detrás del cual se encuentra el Chorus. Diego se encuentra en un andamio, listo para pintar. En una mano, tiene una brocha; en la otra, la paleta. A short but powerful orchestral overture.]
[A large canvas, behind which stands the Chorus. Diego stands on a scaffold, ready to paint. In one hand, he holds a brush; in the other, the paint pallet. A short but powerful orchestral overture.]
Poderoso q. = 80
& ?
f
& V ? & ?
[Parte de la pared se vuelve transparente, revelando a Frida en un circulo de luz.]
[Part of the wall becomes transparent, revealing Frida in a circle of light.]
Frida’s entrance q = 96
[Diego baja de inmediato del adamio para abrazar a Frida pero ella lo detiene.]
[Diego rushes down from the scaffold to embrace Frida but she stops him.]
[Offstage, the spirits are already beginning to reunite with the living.]
[Desaparece el lienzo. Un número de Paseantes entran, caminando por la Alameda, los Difuntos paseando entre los vivos, todos unidos.]
[The canvas ies out. A number of Strollers walk along the Alameda Park, the departed Souls promenading among the living, all together]
Act II, Scene 2
[Frida camina y da vueltas, llena de alegría. Diego follows her into the streets of Mexico City. Dance music ensues.]
[Frida walks and swivels, full of joy. Diego follows her into the streets of Mexico City. Dance music ensues.]
Announcing, festive q. = 60
[Diego va a abrazarla, pero ella lo detiene.]
[Diego goes to embrace Frida, but is stopped.]
[Diego se acerca a ella otra vez.]
[Diego reaches for Frida again.]
[Frida se aleja de Diego. Él la sigue.]
[Frida moves away from Diego. He follows her.]
[Catrina entra con carrito de frutas y dulces, y un sombrero puesto, disfrazada de una Vendedora del mercado.]
[Catrina enters pushing a fruit cart and wearing a hat, disguised as a Market Vendor.]
Caminando, oscuro q. = 63–66
Coro
Chorus
Soprano: Tenor:
[Diego oculta su panza.] [Diego sucks in his tummy.]
[Diego se acerca a Frida.]
[Diego reaches for Frida.]
[Ella camina hacia el lado opuesto, evadiéndolo.]
[She walks in the opposite direction, as if avoiding him.]
long silence… then, they both laugh at
œ
ta - do des - pués.
[El hechizo se rompe cuando escuchan a una mendiga que lleva a un niño cargado en sus brazos, envuelto en un rebozo: Catrina disfrazada de mendiga. Luce banal y patética.]
[The spell breaks when they hear a beggar woman who carries a child in her arms, wrapped in a rebozo: Catrina disguised as a beggar. She is plaintive and pathetic.]
Catrina:
[Frida se voltea a Diego, buscando una explicación.]
[Frida turns to Diego, looking for an explanation.]
[Diego saca dinero de su bolsillo para darle a la mendiga. Frida and Diego move towards one another, but don’t touch.]
[Diego takes money from his pocket to give to the beggar. Frida and Diego move towards one another, but don’t touch.]
[La música se convierte en un templo de ruinas. Un rayo de ámbar ilumina a Frida y Diego.]
[The music becomes a temple of ruins. A shaft of amber light iluminates Frida and Diego.]
Act II, Scene 4
Vuelve a la Casa Azul
[Frida ve a Leonardo y corre a él. Diego se queda mirando a Frida, que ha encontrado a Leonardo en la multitud. Diego tose. Catrina guía a Diego hacia el carrito de frutas, donde le da agua.]
[Frida sees Leonardo and runs to him. Diego stays looking at Frida, who has found Leonardo in the crowd. Diego coughs. Catrina guides Diego to the fruit cart, where she gives him water.]
Gentle q = 52–54 (alla misura)
affectionately, greeting an old friend Frida: afectuosamente, saludando a un viejo amigo
speaking:
[Diego se acerca a Frida.]
[Diego approaches Frida.]
Frida:
[Frida cubre sus ojos. Ambos comienzan la jornada a casa, mientras que paredes azules comienzan a girar, ilustrando el paseo a la casa azul en Coyoacán.]
[Frida covers her eyes. The two of them begin their journey home, as blue walls revolve, illustrating the journey to the blue house in Coyoacan.]
[Paredes azules descienden, creando el interior de la casa azul. (La cama y el caballete de Frida también han aparecido, rodando, dando vueltas, como si estuvieran bailando. Todos estos objetos encuentran su lugar en el espacio, de niendo la recámara de la pintora.]
[Blue walls ascend from above, creating the interior of the Blue House. Frida's bed and easel have also appeared in the space, rolling, spinning, as if almost dancing. All these objects nd their place in the space, de ning the room of the painter.]
[Frida descubre sus ojos. Ella se sorprende de ver casa otra vez.]
[Frida uncovers her eyes. She is astonished to see her house once again.]
Act II, Scene 5 Entre la mirada
[La pared azul de la casa se vuelve transparente y aparecen Leonardo y Catrina en círculos de luz. Más atrás está el Coro. Frida recorre toda la casa, mirandolo todo con asombro.]
[The blue wall of the house becomes transparent, revealing Leonardo and Catrina in circles of light. Further back is the chorus. Frida wanders through the house, looking at everything in awe.]
Andante q. = 63–66
64
[Diego se aleja de ella, ofreciéndole espacio.]
[Diego distances himself from her, offering her space.]
& ?
∑ . ˙ æ
[Catrina y Leonardo desaparecen.] [Catrina and Leonardo disappear.]
[Frida pone un lienzo en blanco en el caballete y le habla.] [Frida places a blank canvas on the easel and speaks to it.]
[Ella desliza su mano, acariciando el lienzo.]
[She slides her hand, caressing the canvas.]
[Ella toma una pintura que hizo mucho tiempo atrás y la mira en la luz.]
[She takes a painting she made long ago and looks at it in the light.]
[Toma un espejo, se mira.]
[She takes a mirror, looks at herself.]
Tempo I
[Ella lanza el espejo al suelo. De inmediato arrasa con el lienzo que estaba en el caballete. Diego se acerca] [She throws the mirror to the oor. Immediately after, she sweeps the canvas off the easel. Diego approaches her.]
[Frida lo mira, escruta su ropa, el rostro, las manos.]
[Frida looks at him, scrutinizes his clothes, his face, his hands.]
[De repente lo abraza.]
[Suddenly she hugs him.]
[Súbitamente, ella comienza a sentir el recuerdo del dolor. Su cara se congela, pero trata de disimular su agonía.]
[Immediately, she begins to feel the memory of pain. Her face becomes frozen, but she tries to dissimulate her agony.]
[Ella camina lejos de él, oculta las lágrimas que nublan sus ojos as the pain builds.]
[She walks away from him, hides the tears that cloud her eyes as the pain builds.]
[Las punzadas del dolor regresan. La hacen caer al piso.]
[The throbbing pain returns. It makes her fall to the oor.]
[El dolor disminuye. Frida camina lentamente hacia una laguna de luz.]
[The pain subsides. Frida walks slowly toward a shaft of light.]
[Diego, indefenso, camina hacia el caballete, toma un pincel y la mira lleno de ternura. Al darles los pinceles ocurre un espejismo]
[Diego, defenseless, walks to the easel, takes a brush and looks at her full of tenderness. A mirage occurs as he gives her the brushes.]
Act II, Scene 7 Invitación
[Tres Fridas aparecen en el escenario, en posición diagonal, vestidas de ropa típica mexicana. Un gran marco de madera desciende, con el n de enmarcar las tres Fridas. La Frida A que hemos estado siguiendo se sorprende al ver a todas estas diferentes manifestaciones de sí misma. De repente, ella se asusta de sí misma. Desde los laterales aparece una bruma muy tenue. La bruma baila misteriosamente, mientras las tres Fridas invitan a la pintora a entrar en el marco.]
[Three women identical to Frida appear on the stage, diagonal to each other, dressed in Mexican attire. A large wooden structure descends from above, framing the three Fridas. The Frida we’ve been following is surprised to see the different manifestations of her image. A faint haze ows from inside the frame. The haze dances mysteriously as the three Fridas invite the painter to enter the frame.]
Mesmerizing q. = 69–72
[Diego y Frida entran en el marco vacío, donde son bañados por una lluvia azul.]
[Diego and Frida enter the empty frame, where a blue rain bathes them.]
Frida Image #1: (Soprano)
Frida Image #2: (Mezzo)
Frida Image #3: (Alto)
[El Coro comienza a tararear una melodia embelelosa, as in a trance.]
[The Chorus begins a mesmerized hum, as in a trance.]
[Frida y Diego están dentro de un marco de madera, como si estuvieran viviendo dentro de una pintura. El está sentado junto a ella. Ambos miran hacia la distancia. Comienza a amanecer. Ha terminado el día de los muertos. Se escuchan las voces de los Difuntos y las campanas de la iglesia.]
[Frida and Diego are inside a wooden frame, as if they were living inside a painting. He is sitting next to her. They are both looking into the distance. It is dawning. The Day of the Dead has come to an end. We hear the voices of the departed Souls and the church bells.]
Lontano q. = 48
[Frida leans her head towards the oor.]
[Frida leans her head towards the oor.]
[Frida se cubre los oídos, cae al piso, y baja la cabeza para no ver el des le de almas. Esto hace que él también cierre sus ojos para evadir el momento. El Coro de Difuntos comienza a entrar por la parte lateral y delantera del escenario, que está iluminado por la débil luz del amanecer.]
[Frida covers her ears, collapses to the oor, and lowers her head so she doesn’t have to see the procession of souls. This makes him close his eyes as well to avoid the moment. The Chorus of departed Souls enters through the lateral side of the downstage area, illuminated by the faint light of dawn.]
[Todos los miembros del Coro dan la vuelta para despedirse del mundo. Leonardo corre a la luz, para verla por última vez. El resto del Coro se voltea hacia él.]
[All the Chorus members turn to wave good-bye to the world.Leonardo runs to the light to see it one last time. The rest of the Chorus turns to him.]
[Los miembros del Coro forman una línea militar. Todos están atentos, esperando ser inspeccionados por el ojo clínico de Catrina. Ella camina a lo largo de la línea, mirando a los rostros vacíos de expresión.]
[All the members of the Chorus form a military line. They stand at attention with blank looks on their faces. Catrina walks along the line, inspecting them with observational acuity.]
Bangs parasol on the oor
[Catrina se detiene delante de un Difunto que está llorando.]
{Catrina stops in front of a crying departed Soul.]
se encoge de hombros.]
[Leonardo shrugs.]
[El Coro se vuelve hacia el camino que los llevará al otro mundo y comienzan a salir. Catrina levanta su bastón y se despide de la vida y con este gesto se va.]
[The Chorus turns towards the path that will lead them to the other world and they start to leave. Catrina lifts her cane and bids farewell to life and with this gesture she leaves.]
Bangs parasol on the
[Frida se levanta del piso.]
[Frida gets up from the floor.]
Act II, Scene 8
Act II, Scene 9 Buscando al dios del Mictlán
[Catrina aparece en un círculo de luz.]
[Catrina is revealed in a circle of light.]
[Catrina mira hacia la distancia.] [Catrina looks into the distance.]
[Catrina mira hacia el cielo, llamando a Mictlantecuhtli.]
[Catrina looks at the sky, calling out to Mictlantecuhtli.]
[Diego cae al piso. Se escucha un sonido estrenduoso. Muere Diego. Frida corre a su lado y lo abraza.]
[Diego falls to the oor and dies. We hear a thunderous sound. Frida runs to his side and hugs him.]
Act II, Scene 10 Levitación
[El lienzo comienza a desaparer, revelando una enorme pirámide azteca. El dios de Mictlán, Mictlantecuhtli, está de pie sobre el templo. El coro de Difuntos se une a él, colocándose en los muchos escalones del templo.]
[The canvas starts to y out, revealing an enormous Aztec pyramid. The God of Mictlán, Mictlantecuhtli, is standing on top of the temple. He is joined by the choir of departed Souls, which positions itself on the many steps of the temple.]
Des
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