Organization

Stage director

Crystal Manich

Singer

Mezzo-soprano

Guadalupe Paz

Paula

Baritone

Efraín Solís

Alvaro

Conductor

Joseph Marcheso

Tenor

Cesar Delgado

Arcadio

Opera San Jose

Orchestra

Opera San Jose Orchestra

Soprano

Elizabeth Caballero

Florencia Grimaldi

Ricardo José Rivera

Riolobo

Bass

Vartan Gabrielian

The Captain

Aléxa Anderson

Rosalba

Lighting designer

Tláloc López-Watermann

Costume designer

Ulises Alcala

Makeup artist

Y. Sharon Peng

Hairstylist

Johannes Löhner

Set designer

Liliana Duque-Piñeiro

Associate Director

Haley Stamats

Florencia en el Amazonas -  (Florencia in the Amazons)

San Jose

United States

California Theatre

Florencia en el Amazonas Catán

Public

Florencia in the Amazons

Approved

Opera San José will conclude its 40th Anniversary season on a high note with the Bay Area premiere
of Florencia en el Amazonas. Marrying romance with magical realism, this enthralling opera was cocommissioned by Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Seattle Opera – making it the first
Spanish-language opera to be commissioned by major US opera houses. Florencia en el Amazonas is
set to make its debut at the Metropolitan Opera in the fall of 2023, with OSJ’s new production
following in the spring of 2024. In this two-act opera, Mexican composer Daniel Catán transports
audiences to a steamship sailing the Amazon river, where a famous opera singer is returning to her
homeland both to perform and with hopes of reuniting with her lover, a butterfly hunter who has
disappeared into the jungle. “This is an opera that is joining the most important works of the
American canon,” says Shawna Lucey. “We are proud to introduce this work in the Bay Area, and to
present the first Spanish-language opera performed on our mainstage – something long overdue.”
This production will be directed by Latina international director Crystal Manich, who returns to OSJ
where she helmed the company’s award-winning production of West Side Story. Manich was also
nominated for a 2021 Emmy Award for her production of Daniel Catán’s La Hija de Rappaccini.
Working alongside Manich, Opera San José cast a trio of astronomical talent to inhabit the female
characters in the opera: soprano Marlen Nahhas in the title role of Florencia Grimaldi, soprano
Melissa Sondhi as Rosalba, and mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Paz as Paula. Former Resident Artist and
favorite of OSJ audiences, baritone Efraín Solís, joins the cast as Alvaro. Opera San José Director of
Music Joseph Marcheso will conduct. Additional casting is to be announced.

English

Florencia in the Amazons by Catán, From (2024/2024), Directed by Crystal Manich,, Conductor Joseph Marcheso, Johannes Löhner, California Theatre, San Jose, United States

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues