Opera. With salsa music beats.
Latin composer David Catan, composed a whole opera with Latin Caribbean rhythms. Seems difficult to believe. But Catan's first opera was so successful that the Houston Grand Opera premiered "Salsipuedes" - an opera about...
A banana republic declares war on the Nazis and newlywed salsa musicians are caught in the crossfire. Love is put to the test in this bittersweet comedy that sways to the sultry rhythms of the Caribbean. Sung in Spanish with English translations projected above the stage.
Opera. Salsa music.
Salsipuedes: A Night of Love, War, and Anchovies is not a typical night at the opera.
Originally commissioned by Houston Grand Opera in 2004, the work is a comedy composed of infectious, dance-ready Caribbean music set on the exotic island of Salsipuedes. (Sal si puedes is Spanish for ''get out if you can.'') The story centers on Ulises and Chucho, two brothers who are married in a double wedding. Unfortunately for the wives, the festivities are cut short when duty calls. Ulises and Chucho are musicians, and they are asked to play the national anthem for a ship that is headed to war. Mayhem ensues when the brothers are trapped on board as the ship embarks on a mission to intercept a Nazi war craft.
Opera. Salsa beats.
Daniel Catán was born in Mexico City in 1949. He studied philosophy and music at the Universities of Sussex and Southampton, and went on to receive graduate degrees from Princeton. When he went back to Mexico City, he took the post of music administrator at the Palace of Fine Arts, where he became much more involved with opera and what he calls "the whole magical world of the stage." The first Catán opera that Houston Grand Opera premiered was Florencia en el Amazonas. It was such a success that the opera company decided to premiere Salsipuedes as well, during it's 2004-2005 season.
According to blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack:
Musically speaking, Catán drew from what he calls the "melting pot" of Caribbean culture, employing rhythms and melodic ideas from Europe, the Middle East, Spain and Africa.
According to...Composer Catan has certainly captured the rhythm and feel of Latin music; the opening wedding scene is an abundance of salsa-driven beats and hip-shaking movements. The actors seemed to be having as much fun as the audience. This style was consistent throughout most of the composition. There are no violins or violas present in the orchestra, and this lack of string is purposeful, giving way to a stronger brass and woodwind section.
Opera. Salsipuedes.
Read more here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91309131
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2012/10/the_moores_school_of_music_goe.php
http://www.voiceplaces.com/salsipuedes-a-night-of-love-war-and-anchovies-houston-3146498-e/
http://houston.culturemap.com/eventdetail/moores-opera-center-daniel-catans-salsipuedes/
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| Photo: npr.org Magali and Chucho (Zheng Cao and Scott Hendricks) pose for the crowd while cutting their wedding cake in Daniel Catán'sSalsipuedes. |
A banana republic declares war on the Nazis and newlywed salsa musicians are caught in the crossfire. Love is put to the test in this bittersweet comedy that sways to the sultry rhythms of the Caribbean. Sung in Spanish with English translations projected above the stage.
Opera. Salsa music.
Salsipuedes: A Night of Love, War, and Anchovies is not a typical night at the opera.
Originally commissioned by Houston Grand Opera in 2004, the work is a comedy composed of infectious, dance-ready Caribbean music set on the exotic island of Salsipuedes. (Sal si puedes is Spanish for ''get out if you can.'') The story centers on Ulises and Chucho, two brothers who are married in a double wedding. Unfortunately for the wives, the festivities are cut short when duty calls. Ulises and Chucho are musicians, and they are asked to play the national anthem for a ship that is headed to war. Mayhem ensues when the brothers are trapped on board as the ship embarks on a mission to intercept a Nazi war craft.
Opera. Salsa beats.
Daniel Catán was born in Mexico City in 1949. He studied philosophy and music at the Universities of Sussex and Southampton, and went on to receive graduate degrees from Princeton. When he went back to Mexico City, he took the post of music administrator at the Palace of Fine Arts, where he became much more involved with opera and what he calls "the whole magical world of the stage." The first Catán opera that Houston Grand Opera premiered was Florencia en el Amazonas. It was such a success that the opera company decided to premiere Salsipuedes as well, during it's 2004-2005 season.
According to blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack:
According to...Composer Catan has certainly captured the rhythm and feel of Latin music; the opening wedding scene is an abundance of salsa-driven beats and hip-shaking movements. The actors seemed to be having as much fun as the audience. This style was consistent throughout most of the composition. There are no violins or violas present in the orchestra, and this lack of string is purposeful, giving way to a stronger brass and woodwind section.
Opera. Salsipuedes.
Read more here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91309131
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2012/10/the_moores_school_of_music_goe.php
http://www.voiceplaces.com/salsipuedes-a-night-of-love-war-and-anchovies-houston-3146498-e/
http://houston.culturemap.com/eventdetail/moores-opera-center-daniel-catans-salsipuedes/