Luisa Fernanda June 3, 2007

Plácido Domingo stars in the last of the great romantic zarzuelas!

How far would a man go to capture a woman's heart? "For the love of a woman anything in the world is possible."

So sings the wealthy landowner Vidal Hernando, played by Plácido Domingo. To win the love of the beautiful young Luisa Fernanda, he would do anything – even fight to the death if necessary. His rival, the dashing colonel Javier, has a different idea – to flirt and fight simply for the glory of conquest. Passion, politics, and epic emotions intertwine with personal lives against the spectacle of 1860s revolutionary Spain. "Love," as Luisa sings, "is a strange poison – the more cruel, the sweeter the taste," and, clearly, this tangled love triangle is intoxicated.

Combining lush lyricism as expressive as Puccini’s with Iberian charm more colorful than Bizet's Carmen, Luisa Fernanda is a brilliant extravaganza of captivating Spanish melodies, costumes, and dances. Director Emilio Sagi captures the authentic spirit of this Spanish masterpiece in a stylish new production that Teatro Real, Madrid co-produced with LA Opera and Washington National Opera. Zarzuela specialist Miguel Roa conducts.

PLÁCIDO DOMINGO "Vidal is a peach of a role for Domingo: his voice easily commands, and he dominates the action, convincingly heroic in voice and figure and able to project a graying virility in the style of Sean Connery." - The Independent (London)

MARIA JOSÉ MONTIEL Her rich, velvety mezzo has been called a Rolls Royce of a voice. "Alongside Plácido Domingo, she triumphed as Luisa in Milan and Washington. Her voice is beautiful and deeply expressive." - La Razón (Madrid)

COMPANY PREMIERE / NEW PRODUCTION!

Generously Underwritten by Barbara Augusta Teichert
PRODUCTION DATES:
Sunday June 3, 2007 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday June 5, 2007 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday June 6, 2007 7:30 p.m.
Saturday June 9, 2007 2:00 p.m.
Sunday June 10, 2007 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday June 12, 2007 7:30 p.m.
Thursday June 14, 2007 7:30 p.m.
Saturday June 16, 2007 7:30 p.m.
CAST
Maria Jose Montiel LUISA FERNANDA
Plácido Domingo VIDAL HERNANDO
Elena de la Merced CAROLINA
Antonio Gandia JAVIER
Suzanna Guzmán MARIANA
Federico Gallar DON NOGALES
Valeriano Lanchas DON FLORITO
David Robinson VENDEDOR
Camille Zamora ROSITA
Levi Hernandez DON LUCAS
CONDUCTOR - Miguel Roa
DIRECTOR - Emilio Sagi
RUNNING TIME:
2 hours 4 minutes
PRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURE:
One hour prior to each performance.
Paul Floyd will lead the pre-performance lecture.
Pre-performance lectures are generously sponsored by the Flora L. Thornton Foundation and the Opera League of Los Angeles.
PRODUCTION NOTES:
Sung in Spanish with English Supertitles
A co-production with Teatro Real, Madrid and Washington National Opera

Official Website: http://www.losangelesopera.com/productions/luisa.htm