Florencia en el Amazonas: Arizona Opera's Mystical Journey Thru Rainforest
Lush and exotic, Arizona Opera's Florencia en el Amazonas takes the stage in November.
Mexican composer Daniel Catán's mystical cruise through the Amazon inspired by Gabriel García Márquez.
First Spanish opera commissioned in the U.S. makes its Phoenix and Tucson debut.
(Tucson, Phoenix) Arizona Opera's second production of its 2015/16 season, Florencia en el Amazonas comes to Phoenix and Tucson for the first time. Inspired by the magical realism of celebrated author Gabriel García Márquez, Florencia en el Amazonas is an exotic journey through the physical and mystical worlds of love, desire and the mighty Amazon River. Performances are in Phoenix November 13 and 14 at 7:30 pm and November 15 at 2:00 pm in Symphony Hall, and in Tucson November 21 at 7:30 and 22 at 2:00 pm in the Tucson Music Hall. Tickets start at $25 and are on sale through www.azopera.org or by calling (602) 266-7464 (Phx) or (520)293-4336 (Tuc)
In addition, Arizona Opera will be hosting a series of free community events with its Latin American Cultural Festival in anticipation of the performances of Florencia en el Amazonas. (Detailed schedule below)
Florencia en el Amazonas follows the story of Florencia Grimaldi who journeys along the famed Amazon River in the hopes of finding her long-lost lover, a butterfly hunter, who disappeared in the jungle many years ago. Wracked by storms and a cholera outbreak, she and her fellow passengers are drawn deeper into the exotic rainforest, where fantasy and reality intertwine and their hopes and dreams are tested.
Written by the late Mexican composer Daniel Catán, Florencia en el Amazonas was the first-ever Spanish-language opera commissioned in the U.S. and has become a smash sensation around the globe ever since its premiere in 1996. Daniel Catán's widow, Andrea Puente, will be traveling to Arizona to attend the performances.
A New Production of Daniel Catán's Legendary 'Florencia'
This will be a brand new production of Florencia, with costumes designed by Adriana Diaz and scenic design by Doug Provost and Peter Nolle, evoking the mystical creatures and characters encountered along the journey.
Florencia en el Amazonas' cast features Cuban-Ecuadorian soprano Sandra Lopez (November 13, 15 & 21) and Alexandra Loutsion (November 14 & 22) as "Florencia", Luis Alejandro Orozco and Joseph Lattanzi alternating the role as the magical and mysterious "Riolobo", and Susannah Biller (star of last season's The Daughter of the Regiment) and Sarah Tucker (last season's Pamina in The Magic Flute) sharing the role of the inquisitive "Rosalba".
Conductor Joseph Mechavich will lead the orchestra with stage direction by Joshua Borths.
Tickets for Florencia en el Amazonas start at $25 and are available at azopera.org or by calling 602.266.7464 (Phoenix) or 520.293.4336 (Tucson).
A limited number of tickets for Student Night in Phoenix (November 12) are available for schools and community groups. Click here for details and ticket reservations.
Click here for sound clips from Florencia en el Amazonas »
Click here for Director Joshua Borths' Essential Florencia en el Amazonas Playlist »
Sandra Lopez, "Florencia"
Nov 13, 15 & 21
Alexandra Loutsion, "Florencia"
Nov 14 & 22
Florencia en el Amazonas
Music by Daniel Catán
Libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain
Sung in Spanish with English supertitles
Phoenix Performances
November 13 & 14, 7:30pm
November 15, 2:00pm
Symphony Hall
75 N. 2nd St., Phoenix
Tucson Performances
November 21, 7:30pm
November 22, 2:00pm
Tucson Music Hall
260 S. Church St., Tucson
Tickets: $25- $135
www.azopera.org
602-266-7464 (Phx)
520-293-4335 (Tuc)
Florencia en el Amazonas Latin American Cultural Festival
October 28-November 18
Latin America has provided the world with some of the greatest and most innovative artists who have inspired millions and established magical realism as a major artistic movement. Arizona Opera's Latin American Cultural Festival will explore the works of Daniel Catán and Gabriel García Márquez, as well as the impact they have had on the people of Arizona.
All Festival Events are free unless otherwise noted.
Phoenix Events
Coffee @ Kerr
October 28, 10:30 a.m.
Free lecture discussion open to the community
Kerr Cultural Center
6110 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
The Art of Latin America
November 4, 7:00pm
Tour the Phoenix Art Museum with a specially curated experience focusing on the Latin American collections.
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Operatìf
November 6, 6:30pm
Join General Director Ryan Taylor for a glimpse behind the scenes of Florencia en el Amazonas.
$25, registration is required.
Arizona Opera Center
1636 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Arizona Opera Book Club: Love in the Time of Cholera
November 9, 7:00pm
Discussion of Gabriel García Márquez's Love in the Time of Cholera
Changing Hands Bookstore
300 W Camelback Rd., Phoenix
Magical Realism: A Conversation with Alberto "Tito" Ríos
November 9, 7:00pm
A lecture on magical realism by Arizona's first poet laureate, Alberto "Tito" Ríos.
Arizona Opera Center
1636 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Latin American Mercado
November 11, 7:00pm
Arizona Opera will be converted into a marketplace and the air will be filled with Brazilian drumming as people survey Latin American cuisine provided by local food trucks, buy arts and crafts from local artisans, and enjoy performances by the best folk dancers and instrumentalists in Arizona.
Arizona Opera Center
1636 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Florencia en el Amazonas
November 13 & 14 at 7:30 pm; November 15 at 2:00 pm
Symphony Hall
75 N. 2nd St, Phoenix
Tickets: $25 - $135
Tucson Events
Arizona Opera Book Club: Love in the Time of Cholera
November 16, 7:00pm
Discussion of Gabriel García Márquez's Love in the Time of Cholera
University of Arizona
Magical Realism: A Conversation with the UA Department of Humanities
November 16, 7:00pm
A lecture on magical realism by Arizona's first poet laureate, Alberto "Tito" Ríos.
Tucson Museum of Art
140 E. Main Ave., Tucson
Say Hello to Opera
November 18, 3:00pm
Enjoy University of Arizona vocal arts students singing key arias from Florencia en el Amazonas.
Oro Valley Library
1305 W. Naranja Drive., Oro Valley
Latin American Mercado
November 18, 7:00pm
Arizona Opera will be converted into a marketplace and the air will be filled with Brazilian drumming as people survey Latin American cuisine provided by local food trucks, buy arts and crafts from local artisans, and enjoy performances by the best folk dancers and instrumentalists in Arizona.
Tucson Museum of Art
140 E. Main Ave., Tucson
Brown Bag Opera
November 20, noon.
Enjoy University of Arizona vocal arts students singing key arias from Florencia en el Amazonas.
Grace St. Paul Episcopal Church
2331 E. Adams St., Tucson
Florencia en el Amazonas
November 21 at 7:30 pm; November 22 at 2:00 pm
Tucson Music Hall
260 S. Church, Tucson
Tickets: $25 - $135
The 2015/16 Arizona Opera Season is presented by Copperpoint