The Death of a Composer Rosa a Horse Drama

Rosa with a libretto by Peter Greenaway and score by Louis Andriessen is the first in a projected series of 10 operas each dealing with the death of a famous composer some real others fictional Rosa falls into the latter category it tells the story of Juan Manuel de Rosa a Brazilian who went to study music in America but spent most of his time in the cinema instead becoming particularly entranced by Westerns Now 32 years old and residing in an abandoned Uruguayan slaughterhouse Rosa has become one of Hollywoods foremost composers specialising in Westerns He also has a beautiful 19yearold fiancee Esmeralda but he pays her little heed instead lavishing his attentions on a black mare named Bola One day a group of men attired as cowboys arrive at the abattoir and kill both Rosa and Bola an investigation is conducted with particular suspicion