Opera Club: ‘Florencia en al Amazon’
All are invited to watch Daniel Catan’s “Florencia en el Amazon” on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 1:30 p.m. in the Learning Center of Clubhouse 3. This musical tale is influenced by the Latin American writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It was the first Spanish-language opera to be commissioned by major United States opera houses: Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera and Seattle Opera. It premiered in Houston on Oct. 25, 1996. Combining both mysticism and realism, it explores aspects of human love. The opera will be introduced by knowledgeable club member Robert Kastanek.
Act 1 introduces six passengers boarding an Amazon river liner bound for the opera located in Manaus, Brazil. There is Florencia Grimaldi, the lead singer in disguise, who is set to head the expected production and who in real-life is searching for her longlost lover Cristobal. Then there are Rosalba, a journalist writing a biography on the disguised soprano, and Arcadio, nephew of the captain, set on adventure and freedom; also Paula and Alvaro, a married couple who appear to be in disagreement with each other. Finally, there is Riolobo (translated River Wolf) who is the ship’s mate and narrator, who may have some power over the upcoming storm that pulls Arcadio into the water.
Act 2 shows Rosalba and Arcadio falling in love while Paula and Alvaro settle their disagreements and again find love. Florencia now reveals her identity to Rosalba as the famous opera singer. She is in search of her lover, Cristobal, a butterfly hunter who has vanished into the Amazon jungle. The boat arrives in Manaus, but a cholera outbreak keeps the passengers quarantined aboard the ship. Florencia despairs of a reunion with Cristobal. She contracts cholera, and her soul is magically transformed into a butterfly to reunite with Cristobal in the jungles of the Amazon.
The production is in Spanish with English subtitles. People are encouraged to wear masks indoors, if desired. No dues or fees are collected. For more information, contact Margaret Gillon at 562-370-3844 or margaretgi@yahoo.com. —Sylvan von Burg
