This hilarious comic chamber opera was first commissioned by the late Gerard Mortier at the Teatro Real Madrid, but lost for ten years. A tale of modern marriage, using a libretto by the Spanish author Rosa Montero, Cambio madre is the story of a husband and wife who want to divorce, and attempt to discuss this with their children (aged 15 and 12) for the first time. Interfering in the discussion is the paternal grandmother (who is divorced herself), and the five times divorced lawyer friend of the family ("I am a professional with lots of experience"), who it turns out is having an affair with the mother. The title of the opera refers to the bartering for the children's affections which goes on, with each parent offering ever lavish gifts to encourage the children to stay with them. It was funny, witty, and attractively sung - the perfect example of a small scale chamber opera. Minimal staging, highly approachable, and musically great fun, I enjoyed it very much.