An opera by Astor Piazzolla

Director: Leigh Warren

Choreographer: Leigh Warren

Music Director: Timothy Sexton

Set & Lighting Designer: Nigel Levings

Costume Designer: Kathryn Sproul

Cast:

Maria de Buenos Aires is a co-production by Leigh Warren & Dancers and The State Opera of South Australia. Sung in Spanish, Piazzolla's 'tango opera' journeys into the heady underbelly of Buenos Aires. This surrealist show weaves together hedonism, sex and death in an unforgettable opera.

Maria continues an extraordinary partnership which began with the Glass "portrait" operas, which are now breaking new dramatic ground.

Leigh Warren, director and choreographer from Leigh Warren & Dancers, says: "Interpreting this work is a fascinating challenge. The bizarre and extreme text alludes to the myriad facets that make up the character of Buenos Aires. My goal is to create the atmosphere of the band playing in a club down down some insignificant alley that begs discovery. As you enter this world from its dingy surroundings, it unfolds into a bordello, a world of dazzling colour with strains of seductive bandoneon music - the ultimate den of iniquity."

The world of Maria de Buenos Aires will come to life thanks to some of Australia's visionary talents; Timothy Sexton is the musical director, Nigel Levings in the set and lighting designer, and Kathryn Sproul the costume designer.

Levings' genius for lighting will be evident throughout the Maria's journey. The lighting conjures images of the low life of the clubs and dance halls that draw in and eventually kill Maria. It is a mysterious and alluring world in thwich the spirit of the dead Maria is reborn and in turn gives birth to new life. This dark and evocative tango world is illuminated by the spirit and driving rhythms of Piazzolla's jazz-inflected score.