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The Florentine Opera Company of Milwaukee, WI, will present its first-ever world premiere opera, Don Davis's Río de Sangre, on October 22, 23 & 24, 2010 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Paula Suozzi, a nationally recognized stage director and a fixture in the Milwaukee arts community, will direct the new work. Principal Conductor Joseph Rescigno will conduct the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in Davis's vibrant, Latin-inspired score. The opera has seven lead roles, four supporting roles, and requires a 63-piece orchestra, a 10-piece on-stage merengue band and 35 choristers.
In a story conceived by Los Angeles author and librettist Kate Gale, Río de Sangre depicts war and love against the backdrop of the twenty-first century where all kinds of violence are possible, and the inevitable consequence of death, revenge and madness can follow. The opera, which will be performed in Spanish with English translations projected above the stage, tells the story of the overthrow of a dictatorship in a fictional South American country. As plots, earthquakes and rumors give way to kidnapping, uprisings and treachery, the new leader realizes that the good of his country and the protection of his own family may be more than he can achieve. Emmy Award-winning composer Don Davis, best known for his work on TV and film scores, most notably the Matrix trilogy, explains: "It has been an obsession of mine, for some years now, to frame the cultural and political history of Latin America in a musical context, from the vicarious perspective of one who resides in North America. The passion and color of the South American heritage, and the triumphs and struggles of its people throughout its history of oppression and tragedy suggests music of monumental and epic drama. This is a challenging work, embracing both traditional and contemporary sensibilities, moving from the center to the periphery of consciousness, and from the intimate to the mythic. It is my attempt to find a universal voice amidst the suffering and exultation of the most human among us."
"It is quite rewarding to see Río de Sangre come to life for a number of reasons," comments Florentine Opera General Director William Florescu. "First, the process has been the culmination of a long journey on the part of the Florentine to bring a world premiere opera to the stage. Second, this particular piece is one that has an immensely powerful dramatic story and value as a musical stage work. By bringing the opera to the stage, the Florentine Opera is actively contributing to the creative vitality of an art form that stretches over 400 years, and I believe that the process of introducing new works in to the repertoire will keep opera dynamic and relevant for many years to come. Moreover, this long-overdue Spanish language opera is another tangible symbol of the Florentine Opera's ongoing commitment to enhance the vitality of our city and our region. I couldn't be prouder of what audiences will experience when the curtain finally opens on Río de Sangre this October."
"Río de Sangre is an important new opera full of wonderful things," states conductor Joseph Rescigno. "Don Davis has a personal musical style that is unmistakably his own, ranging from a wide array of tonalities to written-out jazz. Some parts are very colorful; others are simple and spare. To some degree, I would call it '21st Century Impressionism.' Like Der Rosenkavalier, there is a great deal of atmospheric writing that requires delicate playing from the orchestra, especially in tutti passages, so they don't overwhelm the singers. At other points, there is fine writing for solo instruments. The opera is beautifully orchestrated."Dramatically, Mr. Davis uses a Wagnerian technique: except for the choral scenes, most of the opera consists of dialogues between characters. Apart from one scene where the young lovers sing together, there are no real duets, trios or vocal ensembles.
"This is the most difficult piece I've worked on since Der Rosenkavalier - and worth the effort. The score is rhythmically very complex. It's hard for the singers, too, in that, apart from a few romantic scenes, where the music is simpler, the vocal parts mostly are not doubled by the orchestra. So each singer really has to know his or her part independent of what's happening in the pit." Beyond their usual "Opera Insights" programs, "Meet the Artist" socials and pre-opera talks, the Florentine Opera will offer additional events surrounding Río de Sangre, for both the media and the public. These include a launch party on August 20, with key production artistic staff; "Get Opera," a program for middle and high school students presented in partnership with Latino Arts, Inc.; and promotional "Happy Hours" in select Milwaukee locations, sponsored by MillerCoors. In a joint promotion with the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, Florentine Opera Studio Artists will sing the national anthem before a game; opera patrons will be offered discounts to the game, and baseball patrons will be offered discounts to the opera.
