DAVID RADAMÉS TORO
DIRECTOR
¡Ópera Afuera!
Directed and co-curated by David Radamés Toro
Conducted and co-curated by Miguel Harth -Bedoya
Media Design by Grant Bowen
Produced by Minnesota Opera
Performed on September 22, 2021
at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, MN
¡Ópera Afuera! celebrates the music of the Spanish speaking world through song, opera, and instrumental music.
The program is arranged into three parts –
Part One: Zarzuela, Art and Folk Song
Featuring excerpts from Spanish Zarzuelas, mariachi music from Mexico, and a vals criollo from Peru, Part One reacquaints audiences with popular classic songs while introducing forgotten gems such as “Solereas” from La Verbena de la Paloma.
“Intermezzo” from La boda de Luis Alonso
Minnesota Opera Orchestra Music by Gerónimo Giménez
“No puede ser” from La tabernera del puerto
Andres Acosta (Tenor) Music by Pablo Sorozábal
Libretto by Federico Romero
& Guillermo Fernández-Shaw
“La Flor de la Canela”....Music and lyrics by Isabela (Chabuca) Granda
Vanessa Becerra (Soprano) Orchestration by Teófilo Álvarez
“La Cigarra”......................Music and lyrics by Raymundo Pérez y Soto
Vanessa Alonzo (Mezzo)
with Mariachi Mi Tierra
“Soleares” from La verbena de la Paloma ......... Music by Tomás Bretón
Vanessa Alonzo (Mezzo) Libretto by Ricardo de la Vega
Zoie Reams (Mezzo)
Levi Hernandez (Baritone)
Aaron Keeney (Baritone)
Symone Harcum (Soprano)
Leah Brzyski (Soprano)
Vanessa Becerra (Soprano)
Joseph Leppek (Tenor)
Andres Acosta (Tenor)
Part Two: European Opera in the Americas
This section includes arias and small ensembles from the 19th European catalogue that have historical significance in Latin America’s opera tradition. Selections such as the Prologue from Pagliacci and the Quartet from Rigoletto are linked to the debut of famous opera singers, such as Maria Callas and Enrico Caruso, as well as the openings of prominent opera houses in South and Central America. Carmen’s “Habanera” demonstrates the influence of Afro-Cuban dance forms on European composers.
“Si può?” from Pagliacci ......Music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Levi Hernandez
“Quando men vo” from La bohème.............Music by Giacomo Puccini
Vanessa Becerra Libretto by Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa
Aaron Keeney
Levi Hernandez
Symone Harcum
“Un dì, se ben rammentomi” from Rigoletto .... Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Andres Acosta Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Zoie Reams
Vanessa Becerra
Levi Hernandez
“Cachita” .............................................Music by Rafael Hernández
Minnesota Opera Orchestra
“Habanera” from Carmen .............................Music by Georges Bizet
Zoie Reams Libretto by Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy
Joseph Leppek
Aaron Keeney
Leah Brzyski
Symone Harcum
“Granada”.......................................Music and lyrics by Agustín Lara
Andres Acosta
“La Malagueña”...........................Music and lyrics by Manuel del Rio
Vanessa Alonzo with Mariachi Mi Tierra
“Intermezzo” from Goyescas.....................Music by Enrique Granados
Minnesota Opera Orchestra
Part Three: Opera Latine in the 21st Century
Part Three provides a sampling of Latine culture’s contribution to the repertory and its place in the future of operatic and dramatic narrative. Focusing on operas from the late 20th and 21st centuries, these scenes highlight creative traditions specific to Latine cultures. Cruzar la Cara de la Luna uses mariachi as narrative, Manuel y Bolivar inclusion of Ecuadorian air and Venezuelan merengue, and Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas incorporates the Latin American literary tradition of magical realism.
“Un Cuento Empezado Hace Tiempo”....Music by José “Pepe” Martínez
from El Pasado Nunca se Termina Lyrics by Leonard Foglia
Levi Hernandez Arranged for full orchestra by David Hanlon
“Yo no lo sé” from Manuela ...... Music and libretto by Diego Luzariaga
Zoie Reams
“Duet” from Florencia en el Amazonas .............Music by Daniel Catán
Vanessa Becerra Libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain
Andres Acosta
“Di mi nombre” from Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
Vanessa Alonzo Music by José “Pepe” Martínez
Lyrics by Leonard Foglia
Arranged for full orchestra by David Hanlon
“Fuga y Misterio” from María de Buenos Aires
Minnesota Opera Orchestra Music by Astor Piazzola
“Santa Rosa de Lima” from Bel Canto......Music by Jimmy López Bellido
Zoie Reams Lyrics by Nilo Cruz
“Finale” from El Pasado Nunca Se Termina
Levi Hernandez Music by José “Pepe” Martínez
Andres Acosta Lyrics by Leonard Foglia
Aaron Keeney Arranged for full orchestra by David Hanlon
Joseph Leppek
Vanessa Alonzo
Zoie Reams
Vanessa Becerra
Leah Brzyski
Symone Harcum
Mariachi Mi Tierra