Doña Perón
Based on the life of Eva Peron Donã Peron explores the life of the illegitimate daughter of a prosperous farmer, rejected by him, who rose through the ranks from dancehall performer to Argentina's First Lady. It brings to light the extremes of power at the forefront of Evita's life and her work as an activist and advocate for Argentina's women and working class seemingly at odds with her opulent, high-class lifestyle.
Reviews:
Peter Salem's score, performed by just five musicians, propels the narrative while retaining key elements of the Latin sound . . . . A production this sharp, transformative and fun renders any words written about it unsatisfactory. To understand it, just go see it.
Much of that success comes in working with her longtime musical collaborator, Peter Salem, whose scores invest in the newness of original ballets with original music that deliver detailed musical landscapes custom made for Ochoa’s reimagined stories. TheirDoña Perón (2022) for Ballet Hispanico is a good example of how new music based on nostalgic and tango nuevo influences can feel like better accompaniment than actual contemporary tango adapted for the purpose.
The music, based on a revised tango quintet ensemble subtracts guitar and bass but adds percussion and cello to the core piano, violin, and bandoneon mix. The music opens with a lengthy, brilliant overture that makes glancing connections to the best known of the Tangueidas from Paizzolla’s Tango: Zero Hour. It succeeds admirably on its own merits, becoming a kind of hybrid theater dance piece as well as a musical and cultural centering for Ochoa’s version of her story.
