Photo credit: Unai P. Azaldegui

On July 18, Pedro Halffter’s opera “KLARA” will premiere in its new form at the Teatro Auditorio San lorenzo de El Escorial.

In addition to Halffter’s new musical version, there will also be an innovative new staging with projections and holography by stage director Antón Armendáriz Díaz in association with Draw and Music Studio.

The opera is divided into four haikus which correspond to crucial moments in Klara’s life: Dawn, Secret, Storm, and Farewell. The composer aims not only to tell a fictional story about the near future but to have the story serve as a metaphor for people who feel trapped in a world of limitations and preconceived ideas.

“‘KLARA’ is not an answer but a reflection on this possible future. AI is neither good nor bad in and of itself; the elements that will impact our society for better or for worse lie in AI’s development and use,” Halffter said in an official press statement.

Soprano Ashley Galvani Bell takes on the title character as did in the world premiere in Villafranca del Bierzo and in the US premiere at Harvard University. She is joined by Eduardo Frias and Halffter at the two pianos. The performance starts at 8:30 p.m.