Film

Met Opera in HD

Florencia en el Amazonas

Daniel Catán

December 09, 2023

This event occurred as part of the 23/24 Art On Screen season. This is an archived view.

A magical realist tale of lost love set in the Amazonian jungles.

Met Opera in HD

Florencia en el Amazonas Trailer

Sung in Spanish and inspired by the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez, Mexican composer Daniel Catán's 1996 opera follows an opera diva who returns to her native Brazil to perform and to search for her lost lover, who has vanished into the jungle. This Met premiere stars soprano Ailyn Pérez as the diva Florencia in a new production by Mary Zimmerman that brings the mystical realm of the Amazon to the Met stage. The distinguished ensemble of artists portraying Florencia's fellow travelers on the riverboat features Gabriella Reyes as the journalist Rosalba, bass-baritone Greer Grimsley as the ship's captain, baritone Mattia Olivieri as his enigmatic first mate, tenor Mario Chang as the captain's nephew Arcadio, and mezzo-soprano Nancy Fabiola Herrera and baritone Michael Chioldi as the feuding couple Paula and Álvaro. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

Learn more about the performance >

The Program

The Hop Presents

The Metropolitan Opera HD LIVE
Florencia en el Amazonas
Daniel Catán / Libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain

Saturday, December 9, 1 pm
Loew Auditorium • Dartmouth College • 2023

Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes including intermission

Free tickets for Dartmouth students to attend The Met: Live in HD are supported by a gift from Cynthia and Jeffrey Manocherian P’15, ’18

The Met: Live in HD series is made possible by a generous grant from its founding sponsor: The Neubauer Family Foundation

Global corporate sponsorship of The Met: Live in HD is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies

The HD broadcasts are supported by Toll Brothers

Cast

(Cast in order of vocal appearance)
Florencia………Ailyn Pérez
Rosalba………Gabriella Reyes
Paula………Nancy Fabiola Herrera
Arcadio………Mario Chang
Alvaro………Michael Chioldi
Riolobo………Mattia Olivieri
Captain………Greer Grimsley

Conductor………Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Production………Mary Zimmerman
Set Designer………Riccardo Hernández
Costume………Designer Ana Kuzmanić
Lighting Designer………T.J. Gerckens
Projection Designer………S. Katy Tucker
Choreographer ………Alex Sanchez
Live in HD Director………Gary Halvorson
Live in HD Host………Rolando Villazón

Synopsis

ACT I

The Amazon rainforest, the early 1900s. Passengers aboard the steamboat El Dorado are traveling to hear the legendary but intensely private opera singer Florencia Grimaldi sing at the reopening of the theater in Manaus. Riolobo, a mystical character who can assume many forms, introduces the embarking passengers: Paula and Alvaro, a middle-aged couple attempting to rekindle their marriage; Rosalba, a journalist researching a biography on Grimaldi; and Florencia herself, travelling alone and incognito, harboring a burning desire to find her long-lost lover Cristóbal, a butterfly hunter, whose love unlocked her staggering powers of musical expression.

Once en route, Rosalba accidentally drops her research notes overboard. The captain’s nephew, Arcadio, manages to rescue them, and the pair becomes aware of a strong mutual attraction. The evening concludes as Paula and Alvaro’s attempt at a romantic dinner dissolves into a bitter quarrel. Initially unaware of her identity, the captain tells Florencia of the fate of Cristóbal, who disappeared without a trace in the jungle, thus dashing her dearest ambition. As a heated card game brings out the contrasting sexual and hostile tensions between Rosalba and Arcadio and Paula and Alvaro, a violent storm brews outside. Trying to save the ship from being crushed, Alvaro is swept overboard. The captain is knocked unconscious, and despite Arcadio’s efforts at the helm, the ship runs aground.

Intermission (30 Minutes)

ACT II

Paula mourns the loss of Alvaro, realizing that it was pride—not lack of love—that stood between them. Riolobo appears again mysteriously to return Alvaro to the ship, claiming that Paula’s laments saved him from death. Rosalba, distraught that her notebook has been ruined in the storm, talks to the incognito Florencia about her research. During the ensuing discussion, Florencia declares passionately that Grimaldi’s gift was a result of her love for Cristóbal. Rosalba realizes that she is talking to her heroine and, hearing her story, decides her own love for Arcadio shouldn’t be suppressed. To Rosalba’s joy and relief, Arcadio reciprocates her feelings. Paula and Alvaro have also rediscovered their joy and love for each other.

After a long voyage, El Dorado reaches Manaus at last; however, the passengers learn that cholera has struck the town. The passengers do not disembark. Florencia laments her loss of Cristóbal, but as she dreams of finding him, her spirit drifts towards his in a mystical transformation.

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