El Niño de los Andes
Diego Luzuriaga's new cantata, El Niño de los Andes (The Child of the Andes) will have its world premiere at the VocalEssence Welcome Christmas! concert in Minneapolis on December 7, 12, 13 and 14, 2008. El Niño de los Andes was commissioned by the internationally-recognized choir, VocalEssence, directed by Philip Brunelle. This semi-staged cantata draws upon Andean mythology and familiar Christmas themes, and uses both classical and Andean instruments.
The Inca Trail
In May 2008, the Baltimore Symphony played Luzuriaga's Responsorio as part of The Inca Trail , conducted by internationally-reknown Miguel Harth-Bedoya. On October 23, 24 and 25, 2008, Harth-Bedoya will guest conduct the Inca Trail concert with the Chicago Symphony.Manuela y Bolivar
Diego Luzuriaga's opera, Manuela y Bolívar: Amor y Muerte de los Libertadores (Manuela and Bolívar: Love and Death of the Liberators) received standing ovations and critical acclaim when it premiered in November 2006, at the Teatro Sucre in Quito, Ecuador.In 2009, Manuela y Bolívar will once again be produced by the Teatro Sucre, with performances scheduled in Quito, Guayaquil, Mexico and South Korea.
Drawing from classical opera, cantata, and Latin American folk rhythms, Manuela y Bolivar recounts the passionate love affair and political partnership between Ecuadorian heroine and feminist icon, Manuela Sáenz and Simón Bolivar, illustrious Latin American Liberator, amid the 19th century struggle for independence from the Spanish.
The first ever Ecuadorian opera to be performed, Manuela y Bolivar marked a historic moment for the country. In the expert hands of stage director, Javier Andrade, and musical director, Álvaro Manzano, the production took Ecuadorian performing arts to a new level. More than three hundred people contributed to the lavishly beautiful production.
The opera involved the international collaboration of Spanish set designer, María Elena Mexía, and French lighting director, Gérald Karlikow. Venezuelan tenor Oswaldo Rodríguez alternated with Ecuadorian tenor Marlon Valverde in the role of Simon Bolívar. Ecuadorians Marisabel Albuja and Vanessa Lamar shared the role of Manuela. The other leads included Yanina Murga as Manuela's servant, Jonatas, Luis Medina as General Sucre, and Andrés Carrera as José Palacios. The chorus consisted of members of the Coro Pichincha and the Coro Mixto Ciudad de Quito, directed by Cecilia Sånchez and Magdalena Carbonell. The Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, dancers from Ballet Humanizarte, and actors from the theatre company, Eclipse Solar, all contributed their talents to the production.
Manuela y Bolivar was a commission of the Teatro Sucre.
Read reviews of Manuela y Bolivar
Highlights From Manuela y Bolívar:
Act One: Bolívar, at the Victory Ball, interrupts the music to demand
a more lively, more "South American" waltz.Space
Act One: Having discovered Bolivar with a lover, Manuela sings
an aria about the power and pain of love.Space
Act One: Manuela takes provisions to General Sucre the
night before a major battle.Space
Act Two: Manuela sings her goodbye to Bolívar,
a sad reminder of their first waltz.Space
Act Two: Lament for the death of Bolívar.
Act One: Manuela and Bolivar fall in love at the ball
held in honor of Bolivar.
Photo: AP/Dolores Ochoa R.
Photo: Diario Hoy, Ecuador
Photo: La Hora, Ecuador
Photo: María Elena Mexía
Photo: El Comercio
Photo: José Toral
Photo: José Toral
Photo: José Toral
Photo: José Toral
Photo: José Toral
