La Fada (The Fairy)

"This monochrome symbolist poster with sinuous and fully Modernist lines was designed by Miquel Utrillo to announce the premier of the opera La Fada, a poem by Jaume Massó i Torrents inspired by a Pyrenees legend and set to music by the master Enric Morera. The purpose behind the performance of La Fada was to contribute to consolidating Catalan opera. Opera was a genre that was highly esteemed by the Modernists, who saw it as an example of total art. For this project, Rusiñol had the assistance of many of his friends, because in addition to Massó and Morera, the authors of the work, Utrillo made the poster and was in charge of the stage design along with Antoni Mirabent i Soler; Alexandre de Riquer illustrated the programme; Massó and Pompeu Fabra taught the Italian singers how to pronounce Catalan; and Lluís Labarta designed the costumes. The premiere, which was held on the 14th of February 1897 at the Casino Prado, was one of the featured events of the Fourth Modernist Festival. All of Catalonia’s intelligentsia were there and it was widely reported on in the press of the day. (Museu de Maricel, Sitges, Col. d'Art de la Vila, 32644)"