Search - William Harper/Bernardo Solano, Brad Ellis, William Harper Ensemble :: El Greco

ACT I 1577-1578 The Annunciation El Greco, an old man, is confronted by the Universal Child Soul. El Greco calls forth his life, transforming the people and events through his paintings. He is a young man arriving in Toledo with Preboste, his assistant and Eleni, his Greek housekeeper. He falls in love with Jeronima de las Cuevas, a Jewish noblewoman who avoids the flames of the Inquisition by claiming to be a convert. Conflicts in religious beliefs make it impossible for them to marry. They have a son, Jorge Manuel. ACT II 1579-1606 The Espolio El Greco paints for the Church, developing an antagonistic relationship with Cardinal Don Fernando Niño de Guevera, the Grand Inquisitor. Because Jorge Manuel is being raised Jewish by his mother, El Greco refuses to acknowledge that he is his son. Jeronima dreams of the New World and seeks the council of Teresa of Avila. Teresa and Antonio Covarrubias (El Greco's closest friend) help crystallize El Greco's artistic ambition: to create a bridge between Heaven and Earth. Jorge Manuel is tried before the Inquisition for alleged crimes (a painting of a classical subject [Laoccoon] - then all the rage in Rome, rather than of Christian subject ) against the Church. El Greco does not intervene. Jeronima threatens to reveal Archbishop Quiroga's Jewish lineage and saves Jorge Manuel from the flames of the auto-da-fe. ACT III 1607-1614 The Trinity Jeronima leaves El Greco to seek refuge in Teresa's convent. Jorge Manuel, a broken man and an alcoholic will not forget El Greco's betrayal. A senile Antonio sits for El Greco as St. Peter and experiences a near death hallucination. With guidance from Teresa, El Greco finally understands that, were it not for his family and friends, his art would not have soared. As Jeronima and Jorge Manuel attend to El Greco on his death bed, El Greco acknowledges that Jorge Manuel is his son. The Universal Child Soul grants El Greco eternal light and rest.