2023–24 Season-Florencia en el Amazonas

Overview

“Vivid romanticism … Lyrical, colorful, with GREAT VITALITY … An excellent Ailyn Pérez … her sound LUSTROUS, FULL AND ELEGANT … The orchestra sounds fantastic … An involving production with LOTS OF PLEASURES. ****” —Financial Times

“MAGIC MADE REAL … A true grand opera … One of the [Met’s] most VISUALLY STUNNING AND EMOTIONALLY AFFECTING outings of recent seasons … A perfect choice to bring Spanish-language opera into the mainstream … A FEAST FOR THE EYES.” —Observer

Sung in Spanish and inspired by the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez, Mexican composer Daniel Catán’s 1996 opera tells the enchanting story of an opera diva who returns to her native South America to perform at the legendary opera house of Manaus—and to search for her lost lover, who has vanished into the jungle. The Met premiere stars soprano Ailyn Pérez as Florencia Grimaldi, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium to lead a spellbinding new production by Mary Zimmerman that brings the mysterious and magical realm of the Amazon to the Met stage. A distinguished ensemble of artists portray the diva’s fellow travelers on the river boat to Manaus, including soprano 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 Alvaro.

Please note that video cameras will be in operation during the December 5 and December 9 performances as part of the Met’s Live in HD series of cinema transmissions.

Production a gift of The Sybil B. Harrington Endowment Fund

Additional support from Ellen A. Michelson and Michael W. Michelson, in honor of Laura Michelson Sievers

Florencia en el Amazonas is part of the Neubauer Family Foundation New Works Initiative GIUSEPPE VERDI