Vives’ most famous operetta will be staged at Malaga’s Teatro Cervantes on 18 and 19 February. The particular comic appeal of ‘Doña Francisquita’ lies in the way it presents the classic intrigues of Lope de Vega through the tensions existing at various subsequent periods in history. Three different eras are combined before an unchanging Madrid backdrop, their intertwined storylines expanding, explaining and enriching one another. The contrast is heightened still further by the subtle harmonies and tones which make up the work’s musical narrative, presented through two main characters: Francisquita and the varied folk of Madrid.