For the first time in Beirut, the sound of Spanish will resound through the Metropolitan Opera, with Ailyn Pérez, dubbed the “Diva of the Amazon,” in the leading role. Florencia en el Amazonas, a Spanish-language opera by David Catán, composed in 1996, is set to be showcased on Wednesday, December 20th, at 7:30 PM at the Empire Premiere, Sodeco Square.
The narrative of Florencia en el Amazonas unfolds on the eponymous river, where passengers aboard the El Dorado vessel embark on a journey to witness a concert by the enigmatic yet legendary soprano Florencia Grimaldi, marking the reopening of the Manaus theater. The audience will encounter a tapestry of characters: Paula and Álvaro, a couple seeking to rekindle their marital spark, Rosalba, a journalist penning a biography of the singer, and Florencia herself, traveling incognito, driven by an intense longing to reunite with a long-lost lover. Daniel Catán, the Mexican composer, presents an exotic opera with a sensuous score, infused with the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez’s writing, particularly Love in the Time of Cholera. This tale weaves the emotional struggles of two couples on the turbulent waters of the Amazon River. Magical elements imbue the narrative with a dreamlike quality, interspersed with comedic scenes.
The cast includes Ailyn Pérez as Florencia Grimaldi, Reyes in the role of Rosalba, Fabiola Herrera portraying Paula, Mario Chang as Arcadio, Michael Chioldi in the role of Álvaro, Mattia Olivieri playing Riolobo and Greer Grimsley as The Captain. The production is directed by Mary Zimmerman, with Daniel Catan as composer and Yannick Nézet-Séguin as musical director.
Ticketing will open at 4:00 PM.
