Luisa Fernanda Opens Florida Grand Opera’s 71st Season, Opens 11/12

Florida Grand Opera opens its 71st season with the presentation of its first zarzuela, Federico Moreno Torroba's Luisa Fernanda, a co-production with the SaludArte Foundation opening on November 12, 2011. Opening night will be followed by a very special gala night performance on November 15, 2011, featuring world-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo singing the lead role of Vidal. Tickets for this one-night presentation of Luisa Fernanda are on sale now to the general public.

Zarzuela, a popular Spanish form of musical theater, incorporates both spoken dialogue and singing with decidedly operatic vocal requirements. Many of the world's leading Spanish opera singers have appeared in and recorded zarzuelas, including Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras. Luisa Fernanda, which had its premiere in Madrid in 1932, is considered to be the last great romantic zarzuela.

Luisa Fernanda takes place during the republican-monarchist conflicts of 1868, during which our heroine finds herself in a romantic triangle with Javier, a dashing young army officer, and Vidal, a wealthy landowner. Luisa Fernanda is brought to South Florida directly from Madrid's famous Teatro Real. This production has also been seen at Milan's La Scala, Washington National Opera, and Los Angeles Music Center Opera.

The all-Spanish cast stars Valencian soprano Amparo Navarro in the title role. Ms. Navarro, a seasoned performer of zarzuela's leading roles, performed her last Luisa Fernanda at Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela this past April, producing what Zarzuela.net called "the most stellar interpretation of her career. [We] doubt we'll see another Luisa more exciting, passionate, and human in years."

She is joined by Valencian tenor Antonio Gandia in the role of Javier, which he has sung previously at Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera and Valladolid Opera, Spain. One of his country's most prominent young voices, Gandia first stepped onto the stage in 2000 at Teatro Real de Madrid in the comic opera Der Rosenkavalier and, just four years later, made his debut at Milan's La Scala in Bellini's Beatrice di Tenda. Most recently, he sang as Ernesto in Don Pasquale for Washington National Opera, where he commanded an "enormous ovation", according to the Spanish newspaper ABC.

Gandia's counterpart, the role of Vidal Hernando, is sung by Angel Odena. A baritone with more than two decades and 50 different roles under his belt, Odena boasts a well-modulated voice and effortless projection. He made his operatic debut at the Petruzelli Theater in Bari, Italy, and sense specialized in developing a Puccini and zarzuela focused repertoire. Madrid-born conductor Pablo Mielgo stood at the podium of Teatro Real's Luisa Fernanda production when it was last performed in 2009 in Caracas, Venezuela. In addition to performing in operas and symphonies worldwide, he is also a dedicated arts activist, having created numerous programs and festivals in conjunction with the SaludArte Foundation, where he currently serves as Music Director.

This Emilio Sagi production of Luisa Fernanda is made possible by a generous gift from JP Morgan Private Bank.

SCHEDULE

** Sung in Spanish with English and Spanish projected translations**

MIAMI ? Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County / Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House
November 12, 2011, at 7 p.m. - Opening Night;
November 15, 2011, at 7 p.m. - Gala Night;
November 18, 22, 23, & 26, 2011, at 8 p.m.;
November 20, 2011, matinee at 2 p.m.

FORT LAUDERDALE ? Broward Center for the Performing Arts / Au-Rene Theater
December 1, 2011, at 7:30 p.m.;
December 3, 2011, at 8 p.m.

CAST

Luisa Fernanda

Amparo Navarro *
Javier

Antonio Gandia *
Vidal

Angel Odena *
Carolina

Davinia Rodriguez *
Mariana

Raquel Pierotti *
Aníbal

Rafa Castejon *
Rosita

Rebekah Diaz *
Nogales

Miguel Sola *
Bizco Porras

David Rubiera *
Vendedora

Daniel Shirley ♦
Saboyano

Martin Nusspaumer *
Don Lucas

Ryan Milstead ♦*
Don Florito

Ismael Gonzalez
Capitán

Craig Colclough ♦
Conductor

Pablo Mielgo *
Director

Javier Ulacia *
Set Designer

Emilio Sagi *
Costume Designer

Maria Jose Ojanguren *
Lighting Designer

Eduardo Bravo *
Assistant Director

Rosa Mercedes
Choreographer

Nuria Castejon *
Chorus Master

John Keene

* = FGO debut ? = Former Young Artist ♦ = Current Young Artist

Subscriptions for the 2011-2012 season start at only $32. FGO's Box Office is located at the Doral Center on 8390 NW 25 St., Doral, FL 33122 and is open to the public from 10am to 4pm, Mondays through Fridays during the season. Offices are closed on Fridays in the summer. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at (800) 741-1010 or online at www.FGO.org.

For tickets to the November 15th performance Luisa Fernanda only, now on sale to the public, contact the Box Office only by phone at (800) 741-1010.

A Zarzuela Gala with Plácido Domingo

On November 15, 2011, Plácido Domingo returns to Miami for the first time in 20 years for a one-night-only gala performance of Luisa Fernanda, in which he sings the leading role of Vidal.

With a personal investment in the tradition of zarzuela, Domingo has made it a goal to "... introduce this wonderful art form to new audiences ... the music of my native Spanish heritage is full of so many wonderfully entertaining works."

More than the music of his homeland, zarzuelas were the lullabies of Domingo's childhood. His father and mother, both highly respected zarzuela singers, traveled from Spain to Mexico with Moreno Torroba's company and sang the respective leads in Luisa Fernanda. They established their own zarzuela company in Mexico, where Domingo acquired his dedication and love for the theater and began following in his father's footsteps - the greatest Vidal of his time.

Reservations for the full Zarzuela Gala evening, including the Luisa Fernanda performance with Plácido Domingo, three luxurious receptions, and Dinner Dance on the Lynn Wolfson Stage, begin at $1,500 per person. For individual or table reservations as well as sponsorships, please contact Denise Courshon at (305) 854-1643 or dcourshon@fgo.org.

About Zarzuela

Zarzuela is a form of Spanish musical theater tradition with a distinguished history dating back to 17th century Spain and the reign of King Philip IV. The works take their inspiration from bourgeois life, giving them mass appeal. They focus on sentimental or comedic themes and are characterized by a mix of spoken dialogue and typical Spanish rhythms for song and dance. Zarzuela's vocal requirements are decidedly operatic, and many of the world's leading Hispanic opera singers have appeared in and recorded zarzuela.

About Florida Grand Opera

Florida Grand Opera was formed in June 1994 by the merger of Greater Miami Opera, founded in 1941, and The Opera Guild Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1945. Celebrating its 71st season of continuous performances during the 2011-2012 season, Florida Grand Opera stands as one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Florida. In addition to producing standard repertoire, Florida Grand Opera also presents lesser known operas, as well as commissions and produces new operas. Annually, main stage performances are attended by nearly 70,000 people, and education and outreach programs serve over 50,000 students. FGO offers several highly successful outreach and educational programs, including its internationally-recognized Young Artist Studio. Founded in 1984, the program attracts young singers who train and enhance their professional skills during a 35-week Miami residency. Florida Grand Opera, recognized for funding by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding is also provided, in part, by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Affairs Council, the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners and the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council. Program support is provided by the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council. Florida Grand Opera is a Resident Company of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and a member company of OPERA America. American Airlines is the Official Airline, Intercontinental Miami is the Official Hotel and Steinway & Sons is the Official Piano of Florida Grand Opera. For more information on Florida Grand Opera, visit us at www.FGO.org.

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