‘Minatchi’ was composed 100 years ago by Antonio José, whose remains have not yet been found. 

Around 600 people attended the first-ever stage performance of an opera composed nearly 100 years ago by Antonio José Martínez Palacios, at the Principal Theatre of Burgos on February 18. Martínez Palacios, also known as «Antonio José», composed the piece in 1925 at the age of 22. He was executed in 1936 at the age of 33 by troops rebelling against the Republic, a crime for which no charges were ever filed and whose reasons remain unknown. In his short life, Antonio José composed over 150 works, some performed by renowned musicians like pianist Arthur Rubinstein and guitarist Regino Sainz de la Maza. His works were also performed by prestigious Spanish and European symphony orchestras. The opera, titled «Minatchi», is set in colonial India and tells the story of a princess returning home after converting to Christianity. The musical version of the opera was premiered in Burgos in 2022. Director Javier Castro expanded the original composition to include 14 instruments, and Artistic Director Edurne Rubio created a concept that linked the different scenes using projected titles. The audience gave a standing ovation of nearly six minutes. The next challenge is to stage the full performance of Antonio José’s other opera, «El mozo de mulas».