Premiere of the milonga opera Mariá de Buenos Aires” delights in Erfurt!

Premiere of the milonga opera Mariá de Buenos Aires” delights in Erfurt!

On September 27, 2025, the Erfurt Theater celebrated the highly anticipated premiere of the milonga “operita” “María de Buenos Aires,” which originally premiered in Buenos Aires in 1968 by Astor Piazzolla and Horacio Ferrer. This special creation, which went down in history as a tango opera, looks at the life journey of a prostitute and her return to virginity after death. [Concerti] reports that the performance at the Erfurt Theater ended with a breath of fresh air and a positive response, including flowers and enthusiastically applauding audience members.

Director Hank Irwin Kittel had the artistic vision of combining Piazzolla's work with modern elements from Broadway musicals. This brought fresh impetus to the contemporary staging of the story. The musical accompaniment comes from Stefano Cascioli and emphasizes the sensual sounds of the bandoneon without appearing aggressive, giving the audience an intense experience [Concerti].

Insights into the plot and themes

“María de Buenos Aires” addresses the martyrdom of women in society and their pride in remaining steadfast despite humiliation. In the first part we learn about María's living conditions, which move between the shadows of Buenos Aires, while the second part looks at the events after her death [Wikipedia].

The cast includes talented Argentine artists, including Hector Corona and Carlos Miguel Cisneros, who bring the characters to life. Candela Gotelli embodies María authentically, without exaggeration, while Santiago Bürgi as Polyador and Ole Xylander as Duende complete the ensemble. The choreography by Elli Treptow and Silvina Machado, which combines contemporary dance with Tango Argentino, also gives the production a special dynamic [Concerti].

The musical world of Astor Piazzolla

The music of Astor Piazzolla, born in Mar del Plata in 1921, revolutionized the design of Argentine Tango. With his new style, known as Nuevo Tango, he combined traditional tango elements with classical music and jazz, creating an entirely new world of sound [Secret Tango Society].

Piazzolla, who was already playing the bandoneón at the age of eight, created numerous famous works, including “Adiós Nonino” and “Libertango”. His music was not only viewed as dance music, but also found its way onto major concert stages around the world. In the late 1960s his music gained international recognition, and his compositions are still performed today in cities such as Paris and New York [Secret Tango Society].

After the success in Erfurt, further performances of “Operita” are planned for October 5th, October 11th, October 19th and November 19th, 2025. The upcoming productions will probably be just as exciting as the premiere and promise an unforgettable experience for all tango lovers [Concerti].