Felizmente Há Luar!, by Luís de Sttau Monteiro, is a fundamental play of 20th century Portuguese theatre, which portrays the resistance against the Estado Novo dictatorship and cultural censorship. Inspired by Gomes Freire de Andrade’s conspiracy against English domination in the first half of the 19th century, it is an allegory of the Salazar dictatorship, presenting universal questions about freedom, power, courage and resistance. Written in 1961, the play is a timeless testimony to the Portuguese people’s struggle for freedom and justice. The Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra commissioned an opera to mark the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April 1974. The choice fell on composer Alexandre Delgado, who proposed Felizmente Há Luar! This is not only an artistic celebration, but also a tribute to the revolution that restored democracy to Portugal. The play, already steeped in themes of resistance and the fight for freedom, takes on an even deeper resonance when invoked in this context. This is a first adaptation for the operatic world, thus honouring a major text in Portuguese theatre literature.

Part of the Festas de Abril 2024 programme