We have already eavesdropped on Venus and Adonis in the garden of love, but the story goes on. The forbidden love to the goddess of love is the mortal boy's doom. Raging with jealousy Mars has him killed by a wild boar – and his blood colours the petals of the rose red. Touched by the lovers' fate, Jupiter unites them on Mount Olympus: Venus as the evening star and Adonis as a flower.

At least this is how based on Ovid, the great poet Calderón tells the story in one of the most adorable librettos in the history of opera. In 1701 "La púrpura de la rosa" received its world premiere at the court of the Spanish Viceroy in the Peruvian capital of Lima, the first opera, which was composed for Latin America. Having lived in Peru for over thirty years, the composer Tomás de Torréjon y Velasco draws upon the Spanish musical tradition whilst undeniably adding Latino touches. There are light-footed songs and elaborately decorated solo pieces.

Delicate love lyrics and intoxicating dance themes effortlessly merge forming a sensual and poetic piece. The Argentine Eduardo Egüez and his ensemble LA CHIMERA have exactly the right feeling and make this piece of operatic jewellery shine. Director Hinrich Horstkotte presents a fantastic mix of puppet and musical theatre in the plant hall of the Orangery Palace at Sanssouci – to this day it is winter home for all the Southern plants.

A Music Festival Potsdam Sanssouci 2015 production.