We’re off to Alta California with Opera Southwest on this week’s Sunday Opera (11/19 3:00 p.m.) with their production of Hector Armienta’s “Zorro.”
Described by some as a “Spanish Robin Hood,” Zorro is a young man of noble blood who becomes aware of the suffering of the poor in the area and, after donning the famous black mask, he sets out to right all of the wrongs the people are facing.
Starring as Zorro is Cesar Delgado, and Laura Leon is his love, Ana Maria. Other members of the cast include Stephanie Sanchez, Octavio Moreno, Olga Perez Flora, Jose Maria Gomez, Javier Ortiz, and Laura Soto-Bayomi. Anthony Barrese conducts the Opera Southwest Chorus and Orchestra.
We’ll continue with music of Spain and an excerpt from a Zarzuela (the operatic tradition of Spanish speaking countries) by Jacinto Guerrero entitled “Los Gavilanes” (“The Sparrowhawk”) about a man who returns home after making his fortune and falling in love with the daughter of his former love to the consternation of everyone in town.
We’ll close out our time together with two orchestral pieces.
The first is by Joaquin Rodrigo who brought the Spanish guitar into prominence in the world of classical music. It’s the Concierto Madrigal, a concerto for two guitars and orchestra. It features the Amadeus Guitar Duo and the Internationale Philharmonie. Our final selection is an excerpt of dances by Enrique Granados. These were originally written for guitar, but here we have them in an orchestral arrangement.
It's an afternoon of Spanish music, and we hope you’ll join us on the journey.
