Following a triumphant run in its home venue, SNG Maribor’s production of the musical Evita moves to Ljubljana’s Križanke. The creators of the cult favourite – composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and librettist Tim Rice – conceived Evita as a concept album, but the extraordinary popularity of the recording soon led to its first theatrical staging.
Since its 1978 premiere in London’s West End, the story of Argentina’s controversial first lady Eva Perón has been staged all over the world and even became a hit film starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. The musical is performed so frequently that the copyright owners are said to be very cautious about approving new productions, in order to maintain quality standards.
It is therefore all the more impressive that the Maribor director Svetlana Dramlić was granted permission to stage a new version, on condition that it be completely original. Dramlić, whose production company Rosa has also collaborated with international platforms such as Netflix and the BBC, explains that when designing her new Evita she was guided by the fundamental principle of the theatre – the magic of the stage. Magic also accompanied Evita herself. Actress, dancer, charismatic speaker, philanthropist and extraordinarily influential political figure, she died at the age of just 33 following a serious illness but nevertheless became a symbol that continues to divide public opinion today.
The role of this highly complex woman will be performed by the versatile soprano Sabina Cvilak, while the part of Evita’s husband Juan Perón will be played by Mike Sterling, a much-in-demand performer with over 30 years’ experience encompassing West End theatre, television and radio. The starry cast, the enduring appeal of the story and the timeless musical numbers – including the legendary Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina – add up to a performance that will once again remind us why Evita remains one of the best loved musicals of all time.
