Nicholas Cannon is at the helm of one half of a State Opera double bill: 'La Vida Breve' and 'Gianni Schicchi'.
He's directing 'La Vida Breve', a characteristic Spanish drama that can only end in tragedy. Here, he pens an open letter about Spain and his journey in the world of the arts.
“I was immensely excited when asked to direct the one act opera, ‘La Vida Breve’ by the great Spanish composer Manuel de Falla for the State Opera of South Australia. I then knew I had to return Spain, the country where I did my theatre training nearly ten years ago, to get back in touch with the duende, the essence of Spanish artistic expression.
In 2007, I arrived in Barcelona at the theatre school: Estudis de Teatro Berty Tovias. Having completed my first year training in the Lecoq technique of theatre creation in Paris, I was to embark on the second year completely in the Spanish language, surrounded by the warm Mediterranean culture. Studying the Lecoq technique allowed me to develop as an actor, writer, teacher, but above all as a director and overall theatre creator, through the exploration of masks, clowning, mime and physical theatre. The school also taught me how to express what is true to my heart, a genuineness and passion in artistic expression. In Flamenco, they refer to duende for when their body is taken over by the spirit and releases itself through their artistic expression. Returning to Australia, armed with these new skills and experiences, I began to accompany my performance career with directing stage productions.
I have enjoyed internships with Opera Australia and Coburg Landestheater in Germany plus directing a range of opera and musical theatre around Australia as well as creating my own company, Mopoke Theatre Productions. This next project is one close to my heart. ‘La Vida Breve’ is a story of a Spanish gypsy girl in love with an upper class man that’s destined to end in tragedy. Falla was inspired by the flamenco music and culture and reflected that in his composition. He expresses the passion with such beauty.
To learn more on this I found my way back to Spain and journeyed through Andalucia to Falla’s home in Granada, the Albaicin where the opera is set and to Sevilla and Cordoba to discover more about the art of Flamenco. This experience I hope will allow me to express what is true to my heart as well as every performer and creator involved in ‘La Vida Breve’ and have the audience immersed in this romantic Spanish world and passionate love story. They then can indulge in a good laugh with Puccini’s ‘Gianni Schicchi’ as part of the double bill.”
– Nicholas Cannon
In 2007, I arrived in Barcelona at the theatre school: Estudis de Teatro Berty Tovias. Having completed my first year training in the Lecoq technique of theatre creation in Paris, I was to embark on the second year completely in the Spanish language, surrounded by the warm Mediterranean culture. Studying the Lecoq technique allowed me to develop as an actor, writer, teacher, but above all as a director and overall theatre creator, through the exploration of masks, clowning, mime and physical theatre. The school also taught me how to express what is true to my heart, a genuineness and passion in artistic expression. In Flamenco, they refer to duende for when their body is taken over by the spirit and releases itself through their artistic expression. Returning to Australia, armed with these new skills and experiences, I began to accompany my performance career with directing stage productions.
I have enjoyed internships with Opera Australia and Coburg Landestheater in Germany plus directing a range of opera and musical theatre around Australia as well as creating my own company, Mopoke Theatre Productions. This next project is one close to my heart. ‘La Vida Breve’ is a story of a Spanish gypsy girl in love with an upper class man that’s destined to end in tragedy. Falla was inspired by the flamenco music and culture and reflected that in his composition. He expresses the passion with such beauty.
To learn more on this I found my way back to Spain and journeyed through Andalucia to Falla’s home in Granada, the Albaicin where the opera is set and to Sevilla and Cordoba to discover more about the art of Flamenco. This experience I hope will allow me to express what is true to my heart as well as every performer and creator involved in ‘La Vida Breve’ and have the audience immersed in this romantic Spanish world and passionate love story. They then can indulge in a good laugh with Puccini’s ‘Gianni Schicchi’ as part of the double bill.”
– Nicholas Cannon
