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This weekend, Flamenco rhythms and opera voices intertwine to paint a dark portrait of the Spanish empire in a year archaically associated with the “discovery” of the New World. Premiering this Sunday at National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Journal Theatre (1701 4th St. SW), Composer Adam del Monte’s flamenco-infused opera Llantos 1492 chronicles the stories of Jews and gypsies who coexisted before their families were torn apart in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition and the fall of Granada. The three-hour opera is sung in Spanish with English translations projected above the stage.
Llantos 1492 — which means “Cries 1492” — reframes the infamous year as a time when communities were destroyed and identities erased. The flamenco opera tells the tale of a Jewish lawyer named Youssef Biboldo (played by Brian James Myer) who successfully defends a group of young gypsies who are falsely accused of imagined crimes. The victory proves to be temporary and evokes the vengeance of their accusers, forcing the Biboldo family and their gypsy allies to flee into the mountains of Granada.
“We are honored to be collaborating with the National Institute of Flamenco on Llantos 1492. They are providing the dancers and choreography, which are vital to this production,” Opera Southwest’s Executive Director Tony Zancanella says. “It is really fitting that the world’s first flamenco opera is having its premiere here in Albuquerque, known as the Flamenco Capital of North America.”
A renowned guitarist and composer, Adam del Monte’s music is steeped in tradition, yet incorporates musical influences from around the world. Born Adam Kofler in Israel, and currently living in the U.S. where he has taught guitar at the University of Southern California since 2000, Del Monte has performed with the Madrid Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and many others. In 2006 del Monte played flamenco guitar for Deutsche Grammophon in a recording of Osvaldo Golijov’s opera Ainadamar which won two Grammys.
You can read more about Del Monte here.
Cast:
Youssef Biboldo: Brian James Myer
Don Alfonso: Ricardo Ceballos
Angela: Oriana Falla
Raquel: Ingela Onstad
Mariano: José Cortes
Faisal/Juan: Dane Suarez
Juez/El Inquisidor: Javier Ortiz
Tio Gitano: Vicente Griego
Creative Team:
Conductor: Anthony Barrese
Director: Octavio Cardenas
Scenic Designer: Tlaloc Lopez Watermann
Costumer: Kaylee Silcocks
Wigs & Makeup: Jacqueline Chavez
Lighting: Daniel Chapman
Chorus Master: Aaron Howe
The final performance is already sold out, so hurry to get your tickets here.
Tickets start at $29 with discounts for groups of eight or more or anyone under 30. Students can experience Llantos 1492 for $15, and $5 tickets are available for qualified low-income New Mexico residents through the Opera For All initiative.
Opera Southwest Presents: Llantos 1492
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.
National Hispanic Cultural Center Journal Theatre
1701 Fourth St. SW
$29 to $109