Alejandro Casona
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Rodríguez Álvarez, known as Alejandro Casona (March 3, 1903 – September 17, 1965) was a Spanish
poet and playwright born in Besullo
, Spain, a member of the Generation of '27
. Casona received his bachelor's degree in Gijon and later studied at the University of Murcia. After Franco's
rise in 1936, he was forced, like many Spanish intellectuals, to leave Spain. He lived in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
until April 1962, when he definitively returned to Spain.
Casona went into exile following the Spanish Civil War and, after passing through Mexico, settled for a long time in Argentina. In this country enjoyed remarkable critical and commercial success. He did not return to Spain until 1962, where he remained until his death on September 17, 1965 in Madrid. Having been one of the most recognized figures of the Spanish and South American scene, the alien's return provided him with a terrible disappointment, as the main authors and theater critics at the time considered his work outdated, the product of an era definitively finished.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
poet and playwright born in Besullo
Besullo (Allande)
Besullo is a parish in Allande, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size...
, Spain, a member of the Generation of '27
Generation of '27
The Generation of '27 was an influential group of poets that arose in Spanish literary circles between 1923 and 1927, essentially out of a shared desire to experience and work with avant-garde forms of art and poetry. Their first formal meeting took place in Seville in 1927 to mark the 300th...
. Casona received his bachelor's degree in Gijon and later studied at the University of Murcia. After Franco's
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
rise in 1936, he was forced, like many Spanish intellectuals, to leave Spain. He lived in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
until April 1962, when he definitively returned to Spain.
Biography
A teacher by profession, Casona expressed a strong educational vocation, clearly inspired by the ideals of the Free Institution of Education, and his defense of progressive values in diverse cultural outreach projects such as Pedagogical Missions, created during the Second Spanish Republic. In this same vein, he made many excellent adaptations of classic plays and narratives, both for adults and children and youth. Furthermore, in all his original dramatic creations he knew how to convey messages in a deep and clear social commitment without relinquishing his undeniable poetic inspiration.Casona went into exile following the Spanish Civil War and, after passing through Mexico, settled for a long time in Argentina. In this country enjoyed remarkable critical and commercial success. He did not return to Spain until 1962, where he remained until his death on September 17, 1965 in Madrid. Having been one of the most recognized figures of the Spanish and South American scene, the alien's return provided him with a terrible disappointment, as the main authors and theater critics at the time considered his work outdated, the product of an era definitively finished.
Collections
- Obras completas de Alejandro Casona, Madrid, Aguilar, 1969.
- Teatro selecto, Madrid, Escelicer, 1972.
Plays
- El crimen de Lord Arturo, Zaragoza, 1929.
- La sirena varada, Madrid, 1934.
- El misterio de María Celeste, Valencia, 1935.
- Otra vez el diablo, Madrid, 1935.
- El mancebo que casó con mujer brava, Madrid, 1935.
- Nuestra Natacha, Madrid, 1936.
- Prohibido suicidarse en primavera, México, 1937.
- Romance en tres noches, Caracas, 1938.
- Sinfonía inacabada, Montevideo, 1940.
- Pinocho y la Infantina Blancaflor, Buenos Aires, 1940.
- Las Tres perfectas casadasLas Tres perfectas casadasLas Tres perfectas casadas is a 1953 Mexican comedy film directed by Roberto Gavaldón. It was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Arturo de Córdova* Laura Hidalgo* Miroslava - Leopoldina...
, Buenos Aires, 1941. - La dama del albaLa dama del albaLa Dama del Alba is a play written by playwright Alejandro Casona. It is a Fantasy Drama in which Death personified is the main character. It takes place in a small village in the Spanish Principality of Asturias. The play consists of four acts.-Act I:The Narces family is introduced in this act...
, Buenos Aires, 1944. - La barca sin pescador, Buenos Aires, 1945.
- La molinera de Arcos, Buenos Aires, 1947.
- Sancho Panza en la Ínsula, Buenos Aires, 1947.
- Los árboles mueren de pie, Buenos Aires, 1949.
- La llave en el desván, Buenos Aires, 1951.
- A Belén pastores, Montevideo, 1951.
- Siete gritos en el mar, Buenos Aires, 1952.
- La tercera palabra, Buenos Aires, 1953.
- Corona de amor y muerte, Buenos Aires, 1955.
- La casa de los siete balcones, Buenos Aires, 1957.
- Carta de una desconocida, Porto Alegre, 1957.
- Tres diamantes y una mujer, Buenos Aires, 1961.
- Carta de amor de una monja portuguesa, Buenos Aires, 1962.
- El caballero de las espuelas de oro, Puertollano, 1962.
- Don Rodrigo, libretto for Alberto GinasteraAlberto GinasteraAlberto Evaristo Ginastera was an Argentine composer of classical music. He is considered one of the most important Latin American classical composers.- Biography :...
's opera.
Screenplays
- Veinte años y una noche, 1941. Estudios Filmadores Argentinos.
- En el viejo Buenos Aires, 1941.
- La maestrita de los obreros, 1941. Estudios Filmadores Argentinos.
- Concierto de almas, 1942. Estudios San Miguel.
- Su primer baile, 1942. Estudios Filmadores Argentinos.
- Cuando florezca el naranjo, 1942. Estudios San Miguel.
- Ceniza al viento, 1942. Estudios Baires.
- Casa de muñecas, 1943. Estudios San Miguel.
- Nuestra Natacha, 1936 (Spanish version), 1943 (Brazilian Version) y 1944 (Estudios San Miguel).
- El misterio de María Celeste, 1944. Estudios Sonofilm.
- La pródiga, 1945. Estudios San Miguel.
- Le fruit mordu, 1945. Estudios Andes Films.
- Milagro de amor, 1946. Estudios San Miguel.
- El abuelo, 1946. Estudios San Miguel.
- El que recibe las bofetadas, 1947. Producciones Ática.
- El extraño caso de la mujer asesinada, 1949. Estudios San Miguel.
- La barca sin pescador, 1950 (Argentinian version, Producciones Enelco) y 1964 (Spanish Version)
- Romance en tres noches, 1950. Producciones Bedoya.
- Los árboles mueren de pie, 1951. Estudios San Miguel.
- Si muero antes de despertar, 1951. Estudios San Miguel.
- No abras nunca esa puerta, 1952. Estudios San Miguel.
- Un ángel sin pudor, 1953. Estudios Andes Films.
- Siete gritos en el mar, 1954. General Belgrano.
Productions
- Retablo jovial, piezas breves escritas para el Teatro ambulante, Mérida, 1967.
- Farsa y justicia del corregidor, Valencia, 1970.
- Marie Curie, written in collaboration with Francisco MadridFrancisco MadridFrancisco "Paco" Madrid was a Spanish journalist, writer and screenwriter.-Biography:A native of Barcelona, Franciso Madrid worked as a journalist in Barcelona, Paris, Geneve, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. He wrote essays, novels, and plays. He was also active in Catalunyan politics...
; la Habana, 1940. - El anzuelo de Fenisa, by Lope de VegaLope de VegaFélix Arturo Lope de Vega y Carpio was a Spanish playwright and poet. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Century Baroque literature...
, Buenos Aires, 1957. - El burlador de Sevilla, by Tirso de MolinaTirso de MolinaTirso de Molina was a Spanish Baroque dramatist, poet and a Roman Catholic monk.Originally Gabriel Téllez, he was born in Madrid. He studied at Alcalá de Henares, joined the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy on November 4, 1600, and entered the Monastery of San Antolín at Guadalajara,...
, Buenos Aires, 1961. - Peribañez y el Comendador de Ocaña, by Lope de VegaLope de VegaFélix Arturo Lope de Vega y Carpio was a Spanish playwright and poet. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Century Baroque literature...
, Buenos Aires, 1962. - La Celestina, of Rojas, Granada, 1965.
- El sueño de una noche de verano, (Spanish translation of A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
) by Shakespeare, Buenos Aires, 1962. - Ricardo III, (Spanish translation of Richard IIIRichard III (play)Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
) by Shakespeare. - Fuenteovejuna, of Lope de VegaLope de VegaFélix Arturo Lope de Vega y Carpio was a Spanish playwright and poet. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Century Baroque literature...
. - El amor de los cuatro coroneles, (Spanish translation of The Love of Four Colonels) by Peter UstinovPeter UstinovPeter Alexander Ustinov CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter...
.
Poetry
- La empresa del Ave María, historical romance, 1920.
- El peregrino de la barba florida, book of poems, 1926.
- La flauta del sapo, book of poems, 1930.
Essays
- El diablo en la literatura y en el arte, thesis, 1926.
- El Diablo. Su valor literario principalmente en España.
- Vida de Francisco Pizarro, biographical.
- Las mujeres de Lope de Vega, vida y teatro.
Children's Theater
- El lindo don Gato, ¡A Belén, pastores!; children's pieces.
- Tres farsas infantiles, small comedies.
External links
- Portal I consagrado al autor (Spanish)
- Portal II consagrado al autor (Spanish)PARTICIPÁ DE ESTE FORO, TE ESPERÁMOS!!