Featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán

San Diego Opera’s mission of including new and unusual works alongside timeless classics continues when the Company presents the West Coast Premiere of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon), a Mari-achi Opera, on Saturday, March 16, 2013 for two performances only at 2 PM and 7 PM.

The renowned Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, known as the World’s Best Mariachi and heard on more than 800 recordings, takes the stage for this bilingual work following three generations of a single family, spanning countries, cultures and customs. Performed to ecstatic reviews in Houston and Paris, this semi-staged production receives its West Coast premiere here in San Diego.

Cruzar la Cara de la Luna tells the story of Mark, a Mexican-American dealing with the approaching death of his immigrant father. As long-buried secrets are revealed, he finds himself dramatically re-evaluating his own understanding of what makes a family. Like the Monarch butterflies which migrate every year to the birthplace of Mark’s father, the members of the Velasquez family must travel both physically and spiritually between Michoacán and Texas and look deep into their hearts before they learn where they truly belong.

Making Company debuts in this opera is Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán who will perform onstage as the orchestra. Debuting singers include Mexican baritone Octavio Moreno as Laurentino, Mexican mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte as Renata, Mexican mezzo-soprano Vanessa Cerda-Alonzo as Lupita, Colombian tenor David Guzmán as Rafael, American soprano Brittany Wheeler as Diana, American baritone Brian Shircliffe as Mark, El Salvadorian tenor Juan Mejía as Victor and Mexican musician Saul Avalos as Chucho. Returning to direct the production is Leonard Foglia who made his Company debut as the stage director for last season’s Moby-Dick. The costumes were designed by Cesar Galindo and the sets were designed by Leonard Foglia. The Lighting Designer is Jason Bieber.

Performed in Spanish and English with Spanish and English translations above the stage, these performances mark the West Coast premiere of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna.

Cruzar la Cara de la Luna was composed by José “Pepe” Martinez to a libretto by Leonard Foglia. Cruzar la Cara de la Luna had its world premiere on November 13, 2010 in Houston, Texas.