Sunday, November 16, 2:00 p.m.
A steamboat passage through the fabled rainforest becomes a mystical voyage of discovery, each passenger harboring secret hopes of what the trip will bring. Among them, a famous prima donna hopes to recapture the great love of her life. Reality and fantasy intertwine as the dangerous splendors of the Amazon test the travelers’ preconceptions of their hopes and dreams. The Los Angeles Opera Production of Florencia en el Amazonas features the sensational Chilean soprano Verónica Villarroel as Florencia, along with soprano Lisette Oropesa. A ravishingly beautiful score by the late Daniel Catán, the beloved composer of Il Postino, shimmers with passionate melodies and sumptuous orchestrations reminiscent of Puccini and Debussy. Inspired by the writings of Gabriel García Márquez, Florencia en el Amazonas paints an intoxicating portrait of the transformative nature of love.
LA Opera Community Educator STEVE KOHN will present a free audio-visual presentation on this dazzling opera on Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library’s Barth Community Room. Steve fondly recalls his first opera when he was a college freshman: Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti, and it was “love at first hear.” His enthusiasm and devotion to Los Angeles Opera has been growing for over fifteen years: he is a charter subscriber and a member of the Board of the Opera League as well as being a Community Educator. Steve is a retired professional from the sports marketing world who chooses to spend his leisure time enlightening one and all about this beautiful art form.
Opera is not just magnificent music, dance and theater with astounding sets on a beautiful stage. An opera can sweep you away to foreign lands, take you back in time, dazzle you with pageantry and bring history to life. It is literature, social studies, cultural diversity, multiple languages and most of all, it is exciting! Come explore the world of opera through LA Opera’s education programs. Opera has something for everyone. The program is free and open to all opera aficionados and first timers. Light refreshments will be served.
