NEWS: Utah Symphony | Utah Opera presents Latin American cultural festival

SALT LAKE CITY – Building on a strong tradition of collaboration with community partners, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO) will again present a multifaceted, educational humanities festival, this year celebrating Latin American music and arts. 

Centered around Utah Opera’s upcoming production of Daniel Catán’s new romantic opera, “Florencia en el Amazonas,” and Utah Symphony performances of “Ballroom With a Twist” and a family concert with music by Latin American composers, the Florencia Festival will begin December 10 and run through the end of April 2013.The festival will feature a variety of performances, activities and exhibits providing Salt Lake residents and visitors with an opportunity for learning and discovery as they explore artistic worlds south of the United States.

“Our cultural festivals are always a wonderful supplement to our main stage performance offerings, and community members who attend them have great experiences,” said Paula Fowler, Director of Education and Community Outreach at Utah Symphony | Utah Opera. “This year, we are thrilled to be collaborating with some fantastic organizations to help our community learn more about the Amazon and take a tour of the beautiful art forms of Latin America.”

The Florencia Festival will mark the tenth annual cultural education festival presented by USUO. This year’s partner organizations include the Utah Museum of Natural History, the Salt Lake Public Library, The Mundi Project, The West View Community Newspaper, the Sorenson Unity Center, the Madeleine Festival of the Humanities, The Madeleine Choir School, the University of Utah School of Music, the University of Utah Department of Biology, the Utah Humanities Council and Tucanos Brazilian Grill. Special funding has been provided by the John and Marcia Price Family Foundation and Rio Tinto. See below for a full schedule with venue information.

More information about the Florencia Festival can be found by calling (801) 869-9090 or by visiting http://www.usuo.org/festival. Those wishing to purchase tickets to any Utah Symphony or Utah Opera performances can call (801) 533-NOTE (6683) or visit www.usuo.org. 

Florencia Festival Program Line-up

PERFORMANCES

Jornadas de Amor  (Journeys of Love) –  Utah Opera Resident Artists

January 18 at 7 p.m. | Sorenson Unity Center

·         A concert of Spanish opera and zarzuela highlights approximately 70 minutes in length.

·         Proceeds will benefit the West View Community Newspaper and the Mundi Project.

·         Tickets are available through Unity Center: $5 single, $10 family – up to six members.

Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catán  –  Utah Opera

January 19-25 at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. | Capitol Theater

·         A full production of Mexican-American composer Daniel Catán’s lush opera about a mystical journey to self-discovery along the Amazon River.

·         Tickets range from $13 to $83

Ballroom with a Twist –  Utah Symphony Special Event

February 1-2 at 8 p.m. | Abravanel Hall

·         Dance pros from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and finalists from Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol join with the Utah Symphony for an unforgettable evening of dance music that includes many dances originating in Latin America.

·         Tickets range from $29 to $85

El Salón México –  Utah Symphony Family Concert

March 30 at 11 a.m.  & 12:30 p.m. | Abravanel Hall

·         Featuring music by Piazzolla, Revueltas, Marquez, Fernandez, Bernstein, Copland, and award-winning animation by Paul Glickman and Tamarind King.

·         Patrons who arrive early will get to experience the “Instrument Petting Zoo,”  sponsored by Summerhays Music.

·         Tickets start at $6

Shoes for the Santo Niño – Utah Opera & The Madeleine Choir School

April 28-29 at 8 p.m. | Cathedral of the Madeleine

·         As part of the 25^th anniversary of the Madeline Festival of the Arts & Humanities, Utah Opera and the Madeleine Choir School combine to present a magical Hispanic legend about human and heavenly goodness.

·         Free Admission

LECTURE-RECITALS ON STAGE AT ABRAVANEL HALL

Audience members join artists on stage for music and discussion.

Music of Astor Piazzolla

Monday, December 10 at 7 p.m. | Abravanel Hall

·         Walter Haman, cello; Claude Halter, violin; Heather Conner, piano

·         Tickets are limited: $10 adults, $5 students 18 and under

100 Years of Latin American Piano Music

Monday, January 28 at 7 p.m. | Abravanel Hall

·         Miguel Chuaqui, University of Utah School of Music and Jason Hardink, Utah Symphony Principal Keyboard

·         Tickets are limited: $10 adults, $5 students 18 and under

DANCE LIKE THE STARS

Tuesday, February 5 at 7 p.m. | Opera Production Studio’s 3^rd floor dance studio

• Learn the basics of the Argentinian Tango from Utah Symphony musicians Nick and Claudia Norton. No experience or partner necessary.
• Tickets are $5

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPERA “Florencia en el Amazonas”

Online Learning Materials – Free online lessons about “Florencia en el Amazonas” will be available at utahopera.org/learning starting December 2012. Learning materials created by Dr. Carol Anderson, Utah Opera Principal Coach.

Opera Prelude – Join Utah Opera Principal Coach Dr. Carol Anderson one hour before curtain at any opera performance for a half-hour introduction to the opera.

Opera Q&A – Join Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth after the final curtain of “Florencia en el Amazonas” to discuss the opera production.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMAZON

Feature Films at the Library

·         “Fitzcarraldo” by director Werner Herzog

Thursday, December 27 at 4:30 p.m. | SLC Public Library Auditorium

·         “Burden of Dreams,” a documentary about “Fitzcarraldo”

Thursday, December 27 at 7 p.m. | SLC Public Library Auditorium

·         Natural History Museum’s Science Movie Night: “The Shaman’s Apprentice”

Tuesday, January 8 at 7 p.m. | SLC Public Library Auditorium

Following the film, University of Utah biologists Lissy Coley and Tom Kursar will discuss the project depicted in the film and their own research on plants’ chemical defenses.

Sound of Science Activities

Saturday, January 5 | Natural History Museum of Utah

• Exhibits and activities throughout the Museum, including scenes from the opera “Florencia en el Amazonas” performed by the Utah Opera Resident Artists.

·         “Sound of Science” | all day

·         Scenes from “Florencia en el Amazonas” | 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. | in the Canyon

• Regular admission prices apply: $8-11

Taste of the Amazon

Wednesday, January 23 at 5:30 p.m. | Tucanos Brazilian Grill

• Learn about and enjoy a dinner featuring foods of the Amazon prepared and explained by the chefs at Tucanos Brazilian Grill.
• $35 per person: Price includes full meal, discussion, dessert, non-alcoholic beverage and gratuity. Add a ticket to “Florencia en el Amazonas” that night and receive a 20% discount off the regular price of opera tickets.

Venue Locations

Abravanel Hall: 123 West South Temple

Capitol Theatre: 50 West 200 South

Sorenson Unity Center: 1383 South 900 West

Cathedral of the Madeleine: 331 East South Temple

Opera Production Studios: 336 North 400 West

SLC Public Library: 210 East 400 South

Utah Museum of Natural History: 301 Wakara Way

Tucanos: 162 South 400 West (near the Gateway Megaplex)