Gernika (opera)

Gernika is Francisco Escudero's second opera, written in 1985. The libretto was written by Escudero with the assistance of Carmelo Iturria and Augustin Zubikarai [eu], and based on an idea for a plot by Luis Iriondo [eu].^[1]

The opera consists of four acts, and is about 2 hours long. Gernika was first presented in concert version in the Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao on the 25th of April, 1987, with several other works as part of a commemoration on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Guernica.

In January 1938, he was paid 1000 Francs to compose a Basque stage production entitled Guernica, which had been requested by the Basque cultural organization "Eresoinka". Unfortunately the score was lost. The Eresoinka documents which have been preserved expressly indicate that the work never made it to the stage. After the tragedy of 1937, the name Guernica had become associated with the horror of the war and fascism; the opera may not have been staged at this time because of its political sensitivity.

In essence, Gernika is a song of the Basque Country. Escudero put all his beliefs about history and nature of the community to which he belongs into this work. He presented the Basque Country as a free country with its own personality, peaceful, continuing the traditions of ancestors, who have always remained united.