UTAH OPERA PRESENTS SPANISH-LANGUAGE OPERA, “FLORENCIA EN EL AMAZONAS”
SALT LAKE CITY— Utah Opera will present Daniel Catán’s new
romantic Spanish-language opera “Florencia en el Amazonas,” a lush musical voyage about the transformative power of
love, January 19, 21, 23 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and January 27 at 2 p.m. at the
Capitol Theatre.
Set in the Amazon, the
story follows Florencia Grimaldi, an opera diva who returns to her homeland for
a special performance at the opera house in Manaus. She hopes that during her
visit she will find her long-lost love, Cristóbal, a butterfly collector who
has disappeared in the jungle. On the journey, mystical forces show Florenica and
her fellow travelers just how powerful love can be. Reality and fantasy
intertwine as regrets transform into inextinguishable hope.
“Florencia en el Amazonas”
is the first Spanish-language opera commissioned by major opera houses in the
U.S. (premiered at the Houston Grand Opera in 1996), and is inspired by the “Magical
Realism” style and writings of Nobel Prize-winning Columbian author Gabriel García
Márquez (“Love in the Time of Cholera”).
Cast members include Utah
favorite Cynthia Clayton as Florencia, Nmon Ford as Riolobo, and Hector Vasquez
– who performed the role of Alvaro in the world premiere of “Florencia en el
Amazonas” in Houston, as Capitán. Directed by Jose Maria Condemi and conducted
by James Lowe, the opera will be sung in Spanish with English supertitles. The
performance will last approximately two hours with one 20-minute intermission.
Utah Opera Principal Coach
Carol Anderson will offer an Opera Prelude Lecture, free of charge, in the
front of the orchestra seating level of Capitol Theatre (50 West 200 South) one
hour before curtain of each performance.
Utah Opera Artistic
Director Christopher McBeth will hold a Q&A session, free of charge,
immediately following each performance in the Founders room on the mezzanine
level at Capitol Theatre (50 West 200 South).
This performance is part
of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera’s “Florencia Festival,” celebrating the cultures
and arts of Latin America. More information about this educational humanities
festival and learning resources about the opera can be found online:
Single tickets for the
performances range from $13 to $78 and can be purchased by calling (801)
355-ARTS(2787), in person at the Abravanel Hall ticket office (123 West South
Temple) or by visiting www.utahopera.org. Discounted student tickets will be available
on the date of the performance. Season
ticket holders and those desiring group discounts should call
(801)533-NOTE(6683). All ticket prices
are subject to change and availability.
Ticket prices will increase $5 when purchased on the day of the
performance.
FLORENCIA EN EL
AMAZONAS
Composed by Daniel Catán
Liberetto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain
Based on the writings of Gabriel Garcia Márquez
Scenery
for this production was built by and rented from Opera Colorado
CAST
Florencia Grimaldi Cynthia Clayton
Capitán Hector
Vasquez
Rosalba Andrea
Carroll
Riolobo Nmon
Ford
Arcadio Jason
Baldwin
Paula Kirstin
Chávez
Alvaro Christopher
Clayton
ARTISTIC STAFF
Conductor James
Lowe
Director Jose
Maria Condemi
Set
Designer Phillip
Lienau
Costume Designer Elizabeth
Poindexter
Lighting Designer Nicholas
Cavallaro
Video Designer xxx
Wigs and Make-up Designer Yancey Quick
Chorus
Master Susanne
Sheston
Musical
Preparation
Carol Anderson
Guest
Coach Grant
Loehnig
Stage
Manager Rachel
Henneberry
Assistant Stage
Manager Michael Currey
SYNOPSIS
ACT I
On the riverbank, Riolobo, a mystical character who
can assume many forms,
excitedly announces that the El Dorado is bound for
the opera house in Manaus.
There, the legendary opera diva Florencia Grimaldi,
who has not set foot in her
native South America for 20 years, will give a
concert to reopen the theater. From
among the crowds lining the riverbank and selling
their local wares, we glimpse
the ship’s passengers coming aboard: a young journalist,
Rosalba, who is working
on a biography about Grimaldi; Paula and Alvaro, a
middle-aged couple journeying
to hear Grimaldi in hopes of rekindling their
marriage; and the diva herself,
traveling incognito.
As the ship pulls away from the busy port, Florencia
reflects on the emptiness
of her life, and she longs to rediscover herself
and find her long-lost lover, Cristóbal,
a butterfly hunter in search of the rare Emerald
Muse. Rosalba’s notebook is rescued
from the river by the Capitán’s nephew, Arcadio,
and they exchange confidences
about their longings and desires. Alvaro and Paula
attempt to dine on deck, but
misunderstandings about the exotic menu lead only
to bitter exchanges.
Florencia, awakened by the sounds of the jungle,
learns from the Capitán that the
butterfly hunter has disappeared into the jungle
without a trace. Later, a tempestuous
game of cards reveals the growing affection between
Rosalba and Arcadio and the
increasing tension between Paula and Alvaro. A
violent storm quickly develops and
the ship is carried helplessly in the rushing
currents in a downpour of pink rain.
Alvaro saves the boat from being crushed by tree
trunks but is plunged overboard.
With the Capitán unconscious, Riolobo appears in
the guise of a river-spirit and
implores the mercy of the gods of the river.
Arcadio ably takes the helm but is unable
to stop the forces of nature as the ship runs
aground.
ACT II
In the quiet after the storm, Florencia wonders
whether she is alive or dead.
Arcadio and Rosalba rejoice to find they have
survived the storm but, frightened
by the intensity of their feelings for each other,
vow not to fall in love and risk
disillusionment. Paula laments the loss of Alvaro,
recognizing that the wall between
them was pride — not a lack of love. Riolobo once
again calls upon the mystical and
transformative powers of the Amazon. Suddenly
Alvaro is returned to the boat,
explaining that Paula’s voice called him back from
the brink of death. On behalf of
all the passengers, Florencia thanks him for saving
their lives and they resume their
journey to Manaus.
Rosalba finds her ruined
notebook containing all her notes for the biography of
Florencia. She is
distraught by the loss of two years’ work, but Florencia tells her she
has lost nothing
irreplaceable. The two women begin to argue about the source of
Grimaldi’s talents, and
when Florencia passionately declares that the diva’s gift sprang
from her love for a man,
Rosalba suddenly realizes the woman standing before her is
the opera singer herself.
With both pairs of lovers
reconciled to their need for each other, the ship is about
to reach Manaus when it is
discovered that no one may disembark because of a
cholera epidemic. In
despair at being unable to fulfill her search, Florencia’s spirit
drifts toward Cristóbal in
a mystical reunion.
BIOS
Cynthia
Clayton (California)
Florencia Grimaldi
Most Recently at Utah Opera, Falstaff
Recently:
Madama
Butterfly, Intermountain Opera;
Il Trovatore, Opera Grand Rapids;
Madama Butterfly, Houston Grand Opera
Upcoming:
Otello, West Bay Opera and Festival
Opera co-production
Hector Vasquez (California)
Capitán
Utah Opera Debut
Capitán
Utah Opera Debut
Recently:
La Bohéme, Houston Grand Opera;
Florencia en el Amazonas, Opera Colorado;
Falstaff, Moores Opera Center
Upcoming:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Metropolitan Opera
La Bohéme, Houston Grand Opera;
Florencia en el Amazonas, Opera Colorado;
Falstaff, Moores Opera Center
Upcoming:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Metropolitan Opera
Andrea Carroll
(Maryland)
Utah
Opera debut
Recently:
La Bohéme, Houston Grand Opera;
Don Giovanni, Wolf
Trap Opera;
Le Nozze di Figaro, Fort
Worth Opera
Upcoming:
Trial by Jury, Houston
Grand Opera
Nmon Ford (California)
Riolobo
Most Recently at Utah Opera, Carmen
Recently:
Don Giovanni, Teatro Comunale di Bologna;
Attila, Sferisterio Festival, Italy;
Tosca, Hamburg State Opera;
Les pêcheurs de perles, Detroit Opera Theater;
Carmen, Teatro Sociale di Rovigo
Upcoming:
Salome, Opéra National de Bordeaux;
Macbeth, Long Beach Opera
Jason
Baldwin (Colorado)
Arcadio
Most
Recently at Utah Opera, Der fliegende Holländer
Recently:
Madama
Butterfly, Opera Fort Collins;
La Bohème, Asheville Lyric Opera;
Carmen, Utah
Festival Opera
Upcoming:
La Bohème, Loveland Opera
Kirstin Chávez (New Mexico)
Paula
Most Recently at Utah
Opera, Cosi fan Tutte
Recently:
Carmen, Opera Queensland;
Carmen, Grazer Opera;
Dead Man Walking, Tulsa Opera
Upcoming:
Rape of Lucretia, Opera di Firenze
Christopher Clayton (Utah)
Alvaro
Most
Recently at Utah Opera, Little Women
Recently:
La Bohème, Opera Idaho;
Carmina
Burana, Utah State Universtiy;
Trouble
in Tahiti, Portland Opera
Upcoming:
Die
Fledermaus, Opera Theatre of the
Rockies
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