Atlántida (Atlantis) is an opera by Manuel de Falla based on a Spanish translation of the Catalan poem L'Atlàntida by Jacint Verdaguer.
Atlántida started in the 1920s as a cantata, but grew over 20 years to become a full opera.[1] De Falla died in Argentina before it was finished, leaving a loose collection of sketches. The long work of editing and completion was undertaken by Ernesto Halffter.[2]
When finally completed the opera appeared at La Scala, Milan, 1962, under the baton of Thomas Schippers with Lino Puglisi, Giulietta Simionato and Teresa Stratas, then in Berlin and Buenos Aires, and America conducted by Ernest Ansermet.
The opera has three major singing roles: the narrator Corifeo (baritone) an old man who tells Colombus of the sinking of Atlantis, Queen Pyrene (mezzo), and Queen Isabella (soprano), then minor roles such as the three-headed Geryones (three tenors).[3]