Program notes
Constellations is a chamber opera in two acts inspired by the life of the Spanish artist Joan Miró. Music is by Efraín Amaya, with libretto by Susana Amundaraín. The piece reflects Miró’s world through sound and image, echoing his famous wish: “My work should be like a poem set to music by a painter.”
The story unfolds at the onset of a great war in the first half of the 20th century, on the northern coast of France. A prominent artist, Jo, and his family have self-exiled to a small village by the sea. Their goal is to become invisible for a while and to gauge the direction and magnitude of the coming conflict. The war seems to have its eyes everywhere on the European continent—so does God’s Eye. It becomes a matter of timing and movement, of composition: never being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Jo and his wife, Pi, live through some of the tensest moments of their lives. They cannot return to their homeland, now controlled by a vicious dictator whom they oppose, and they realize that a larger, more unpredictable monster is upon them. Jo retreats into himself and into his work. He becomes exiled from his family as well, plagued by sleepless nights, visions, and a sense of spiraling downward. Pi, also unable to sleep, begins hearing voices in the house—like a radio catching unexpected waves. A benevolent old spirit, Tessa, reveals herself and guides Pi in finding a way to reach her distraught husband through his art.
Tessa advises Pi to disguise herself as a fantastic bird and to visit Jo at night with messages from this spirit world. Jo, already hallucinating, is unlikely to distinguish between his visions and this “bird-muse.” Pi succeeds in forging a new bond with him; he begins painting consistently again, inspired by the night visits and the skies. As his inner darkness slowly lifts, the outside threats approach. Pushed by the looming catastrophe, the family must decide when and how to move on.
Characters
- Jo — Lyric baritone. A man in his mid-40s, painter and poet: quiet, sensitive, intuitive, pessimistic, and overwhelmed by anxiety and uncertainty. His deepest fears are taking hold of him, and he cannot find a place of peace or freedom.
- Pi — Lyric mezzo-soprano. Jo’s wife: good-natured, strong, resilient, and pragmatic. She is the rock of the family and mother of their only child.
- The Bird — Jo’s muse at night, Pi in disguise, who appears to him in the studio.
- Tessa — Light lyric soprano (the guide): an old benevolent spirit present in the house. Pi is the only one who can see and speak with her.
- Dee — The daughter, an occasional silent presence.
Story line
The opera’s story line follows Jo and Pi as they navigate exile, looming war, spiritual intervention, and the transformative power of art. The narrative is divided into acts and scenes, allowing the music to move fluidly between interior psychological space and the external pressures of history and fate.
Act I
Scene I (Introduction). A man and a woman share an interior space, but a vast emotional gap separates them. The climate of global wars creates an invisible wall between Jo and Pi. Their dialogues have become monologues. Pi calls for help—to someone, anyone, perhaps God. Feeling the need for divine protection, she prays for guidance as her husband begins to unravel.
Scene II. As Jo shows signs of despair and anxiety bordering on madness, Pi discovers the presence of unseen but audible “tenants” in the house. A benevolent old spirit materializes before her: Tessa, who introduces herself as a guiding messenger. She proposes a plan to reach Jo through a nocturnal game of transformation.
Scene III. Jo is obsessed with world news and with his many losses. He mourns his home and friends, and fears the loss of freedom and rights. His large-scale masterpiece, The Reaper, recently exhibited in Paris, has vanished in the chaos of war. Unable to sleep or eat, he is haunted by surreal visions.
Scene IV. Pi and Tessa grow closer. Tessa suggests that Pi disguise herself as an exotic bird at night and visit Jo. Anything supernatural, Tessa argues, will command his attention. Together they devise a plan to coax him out of the darkness through this nightly apparition. Pi is unsure she can carry out such an elaborate staging, but Tessa reassures her that she will help—and, in any case, Jo may not be able to distinguish his wild hallucinations from a wild disguise.
Scene V. As Jo’s sleepless days and nights take their toll, he becomes increasingly weary and anxious. Pi and Jo are tense and fighting; a void has formed between them. Jo wants to retreat into silence, gripped by a sense of foreboding and restlessness.
Scene VI. Pi realizes that the Bird’s intervention is of utmost necessity. At night, the Bird appears in the studio and begins a dialogue with Jo, bringing Tessa’s messages and suggestions. Pi is excited; her rescue plan may succeed. She is finally able to reach him again, even though the circumstances are still dark and serious and a perfect storm brews around them.
Act II
Scene I. A few days into the Bird’s nocturnal visits, Jo and Pi talk about the mysterious “voice” at night, the new changes, and the possibility of leaving again. Jo is entranced by his muse visitor and does not want to leave; this presence might belong to the house and may not follow him elsewhere. His work is changing, as is his perception of his place in the universe. Why leave now, when great pressures might produce the most beautiful outcomes?
Scene II. Pi realizes that she, as the Bird, must set things in motion to prepare their imminent departure for a safer place. With Tessa, she collaborates on a sensible plan to remove the family from immediate danger. The Bird makes a final appearance and promises always to be at Jo’s side. In truth, she has been there all along; as his daily companion she had become too familiar to be noticed. Pi feels it is time to tell the truth and reveal herself, explaining the presence of the genuine spirit guide who has helped since the day she first prayed for guidance.
Scene III. Jo finishes packing his work and his belongings, gathering his thoughts as he prepares to step into a new period of his life. He reflects on what he is leaving behind: his ambitions, his self-imposed need to mingle with intellectual circles, and the conceptual frameworks that have constrained him. He is about to discover a form that allows him to be free and to be himself. Tessa reveals herself to both Pi and Jo; he is once more entranced by this otherworldly presence and comforted by the sense that they are not entirely alone.
Pi and Jo, with their child, escape as bombs fall on the village by the sea. The devastation seems to thin the wall between this world and others. Pi and Jo leave with a renewed complicity and a strengthened sense of unity. Together they embark on their next journey into the unknown—reminded that we only ever know where we stand in the present moment, and that death is always only a few steps away.
Instrumentation, duration & materials
Instrumentation: Chamber opera in two acts.
Duration: ca. 78 minutes.
Materials: Parts (performance materials) available on rental
only via the Rental & Licensing page.
- Constellations: A Chamber Opera — 2015.
- Performance materials: Parts Music Rental only.
- Full score $140.00 / Vocal score $50.00 (see purchase options below).
This video can be viewed on YouTube.
Purchase options
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