I am in the midst of research for my first libretto. The subject is Queen Katherine of Aragon, the daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile (yes, the monarchs associated with Columbus) and first wife of Henry VIII, King of England and Ireland. She is a fascinating person, consumed by her faith and a true love for her husband. Henry had doubts as to the validity of their marriage due to that fact that Katherine was his older brother’s widow. The marriage required special dispensation from Pope Julius II.
Marriages betwixt the widows and widowers of nobles was not new, not even to Katherine’s family. Her older sister, Isabella, married Prince Afonso of Portugal, who died shortly after his birth. Isabella, after a period of mourning, married Afonso’s younger brother, Manuel. When Isabella died, Manuel married Isabella’s younger sister, Maria. Crazy, huh?
The opera will be three acts with a prologue and epilogue. Peter de Mets, my writing partner and dear friend, is the composer and we are very excited about the project. A recit and aria pair has already started to develop – the Five Flowers aria, in which Katherine laments her 5 deceased children, each one compared to a flower.
More as the project moves forward!
