About
An Adaptation for 2 principals (Frida, Diego) and 4 singers.
Robert X. Rodriguez about the production: "As I have said before, the Long Beach Opera production was brilliantly conceived and elegantly realized. With fewer singing actors, the action was exquisitely concentrated and deeply satisfying. Thank you for showing me a new and exciting vision of my work."
Reviews
Long Beach Opera did a remarkable job with minimal stage design by LBO Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek, mostly a screen with projections of artworks, including an animation of a drawing Kahlo had done after the bus accident that nearly killed her as a teen. Kahlo’s artwork is autobiographical so it is essential to any story of her life. One of the most hypnotic scenes was the surreal “wounded deer” sequence, derived from an image in one of her paintings and choreographed with four actors as Calaveras.
The drama is at its best when the direction by Andreas Mitisek focuses on the emotional/artistic conflicts that ebbed, flowed and overflowed throughout Kahlo’s marriage, divorce and remarriage to Rivera.
Credits
Museum of Latin American Art, Sculpture Garden
Frida Kahlo: Laura Virella
Diego Rivera: Bernardo Bermudez
Calavera 1: Alejandra Martinez
Calavera 2: Joanna Ceja
Calavera 3: Jonathan Lacayo
Calavera 4: David Castillo
Conductor: Kristof van Grysperre
Lighting Design: Dan Weingarten
Photos
Long Beach Opera 2017
Photographer: Doris Koplik, Keith Ian Polakoff