Florencia en el Amazonas
Music by
Daniel Catán
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Los Angeles, US
2014
November
22
19:30
November
30
14:00
December
10
19:30
December
14
14:00
December
18
19:30
December
20
19:30
Cast
| Florencia Grimaldi | Verónica Villarroel | |
| Ríolobo | José Carbó | |
| Rosalba | Lisette Oropesa | |
| Arcadio | Arturo Chacón-Cruz | |
| Paula | Nancy Fabiola Herrera | |
| Alvaro | Gordon Hawkins | |
| The Captain | David Pittsinger |
Grant Gershon
ProductionFrancesca Zambello
Set DesignerRobert Israel
CostumesCatherine Zuber
ChoreographyEric Sean Fogel
About
MUSIC BY DANIEL CATÁN
Libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain
OVERVIEW
A steamboat passage through the fabled rainforest becomes a mystical voyage of discovery, each passenger harboring secret hopes of what the trip will bring. Among them, a famous prima donna hopes to recapture the great love of her life. Reality and fantasy intertwine as the dangerous splendors of the Amazon test the travelers’ preconceptions of their hopes and dreams.
The sensational Chilean soprano Verónica Villarroel returns as Florencia, her record-breaking seventh leading role at LA Opera, joined by a stellar cast. An exquisite score by Daniel Catán, the beloved composer of Il Postino, shimmers with passionate melodies and sumptuous orchestrations reminiscent of Puccini and Debussy. Inspired by the writings of Gabriel García Márquez, Florencia en el Amazonas paints an intoxicating portrait of the transformative nature of love.
Revival of a co-production of LA Opera with Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera de Colombia, and the Opera de Bellas Artes & Festival Internacional Cervantino.
Media
Florencia en el Amazonas: Boat Build Timelapse
Photos: Rehearsal of LA Opera’s production of Florencia en el Amazonas
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune has some very interesting photos from our rehearsals of Florencia en el Amazonas with the LA Opera.
Reviews
'Florencia' makes undemanding return to L.A. Opera
With svelte phrases and gleaming high notes, the American soprano Lisette Oropesa introduced a primly earnest Rosalba, a writer looking to pen a book on the diva.None— Timothy Mangan • Orange County Register
'Florencia en el Amazonas' a culture clash solved by orchestra
soprano Lisette Oropesa, a brilliantly perky Rosalba.None— Mark Swed • Los Angeles Times
Daniel’s Catán’s Opera Steams Down the Amazon
As the young lovers, Lisette Oropesa as Rosalba and Arturo Chacón-Cruz as Arcadio are a charming pair. Oropesa’s soprano floated with a lithe and silvery line.None— Jane Rosenberg • Seen and Heard International
Review: L.A. Opera pays tribute to Daniel Catan with lush ‘Florencia en al Amazonas’
Oropesa is a rising star with a sweet soprano that shines. Her duets with Chacón-Cruz provide the vocal high points of the production.None— Jim Farber • Los Angeles Daily News
Review: Los Angeles Opera’s Magically Staged and Sung “Florencia en el Amazonas”
The fresh, lyrical voices of Oropesa and Chacón-Cruz blended beautifully in Catán’s lushly romantic duets.None— William • Opera Warhorses
L.A. Opera Revives Florencia en el Amazonas
Rising coloratura soprano Lisette Oropesa as Rosalba, with ardent tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz as Arcadio, provided the evening’s most satisfying vocal performances.Rising coloratura soprano Lisette Oropesa, as Rosalba, alongside the passionate tenor Arturo Chacon-Cruz as Arcadio, delivered the evening's most gratifying vocal performances.— Rodney Punt • San Francisco Classical Voice
In L.A. Opera's Florencia en el Amazonas, a Boat Ride Leads to a Secret Concert (GO!)
Oropesa’s voice is lovely yet delicateNone— Falling James • LA Weekly
Florencia in el Amazonas Makes Triumphant Return to LA
Oropesa sang with spinning silvery tones that rang to the rafters.None— Maria Nockin • Opera Today
Florencia en el Amazonas
..while Oropesa’s voice is still light and supple, there are hints in it of the darker dramatic roles that Florencia herself would have been master of.None— Simon Williams • Opera News