"Peeping Through the Theatre Curtain": The Early Musical Actions of Joan Brossa and Josep M. Mestres Quadreny (1962–1966)

The early “musical actions” of the poet Joan Brossa and the composer Josep Maria Mestres Quadreny, written between 1962 and 1966, imply a personal reformulation of the musical theatre, with regards to both the surrealistic design of the text and the contemporary musical language of the score; which often left audiences speechless, as happened when Conversa was premiered in 1965. As these early musical actions were taking shape, other musical experiences such as those being put forth by John Cage, Mauricio Kagel or Juan Hidalgo were radically shaking the conventions of the international musical scene during the 50s and 60s, especially the conception of the possible interrelationship of the elements involved in the different types of musical stagings. This change of direction, however, is significantly different from the path chosen by Brossa-Mestres, who seemed more inclined towards exploring irony and transgression as taught by the historical avant-garde. One of the most inspiring moments that this unique search produced was the musical action Suite Bufa, in 1966, which received its fair share of praise at the Festival Sigma II in Bordeaux.