AN EXHILARATING MARIACHI OPERA FEATURING THE WORLD-FAMOUS MARIACHI VARGAS DE TECALITLÁN.
"Cruzar la Cara de la Luna" (To Cross the Face of the Moon)
FW Opera commits to the exploration of vibrant, contemporary Spanish language operas by Latino and Latina composers from across the Americas.
José “Pepe” Martínez Music
José “Pepe” Martínez & Leonard Foglia Lyrics
Leonard Foglia Book
Fort Worth Opera introduces the second phase of the landmark 10-year initiative Opera of the Americas with Noches de Ópera (Nights of Opera). This groundbreaking campaign will present powerful operas, each reflecting the diverse cultures of new American audiences. Beginning next season with the critically lauded mariachi opera Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon) and extending through the 2020 Festival, FWOpera commits to the exploration of vibrant, contemporary Spanish language operas by Latino and Latina composers from across the Americas.
Featuring music by José “Pepe” Martínez of the world-famous Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna has been praised by critics in Houston, Chicago, Phoenix, and Paris as a “stunning and emotional work” (Houston Chronicle). A one-of-a-kind operatic experience, the opera blends the folk traditions of mariachi music with opera, to tell a gripping story of a family divided by borders and their struggle to exist between two cultures.
The work will introduce FWOpera audiences to a cast of fresh faces, all making their Festival debuts. Leading the cast is Octavio Moreno as Laurentino – a dying grandfather whose memories carry the audience between his past and present. Joining him is Brian Shircliffe as his American son Mark and David Guzman as his Mexican son Rafael. Mark’s daughter Diana is sung by Brittany Wheeler and Cecilia Duarte plays Laurentino’s wife, Renata. Leonard Foglia will make his FWOpera Festival directorial debut.
