Evita

The musical Evita is one of the most celebrated works by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics). The musical narrates, in the format of a rock opera, the rise and fall of Eva Perón, the charismatic and controversial First Lady of Argentina. Set in the 1930s and 1940s, the musical follows the trajectory of Eva Duarte, an ambitious young woman who leaves the interior in search of fame and fortune in Buenos Aires. Determined to succeed, Evita becomes involved with influential figures until she meets Juan Perón, a rising military and political officer. By marrying him, Eva becomes one of the most beloved figures among the people, a symbol of hope and social progress — but also hated by many, the target of criticism and accused of political manipulation and thirst for power. The story is narrated by Che, a skeptical revolutionary and a kind of critical conscience, who observes and questions Eva's actions throughout her life. The musical culminates with Eva's illness and premature death at 33 years old, when her image had already become mythical. The work originally premiered at the Prince Edward Theatre in London on 21 June 1978, with Elaine Paige in the role of Eva Perón, winning great critical and public acclaim, having received the Laurence Olivier Award for her performance. A year later, the production arrived on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on 25 September 1979, starring Patti LuPone, who would go on to receive the Tony Award for her performance. Since then, the role of Evita has been performed by several renowned actresses, including Madonna, who immortalized it in the 1996 film adaptation, and Elena Roger, star of the 2006 London revival and the 2012 Broadway production. (Fully in Portuguese version.)