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The Florencia libretto, by Marcela Fuentes Berain, was loosely inspired by Nobel Prize winner, Gabriel García Márquez's novel, Love in a Time of Cholera and with her poetic writing she creates a world that unites real and imaginative creatures in a fascinating fictional tapestry.

The diva Florencia Grimaldi (Patricia Schuman) boards the boat incognito while the mystical being Riolobo (Mark S Doss) - appearing here as a sailor - calls 'all aboard'. Photo: George Hixson/Houston Grand Opera
The diva Florencia Grimaldi (Patricia Schuman) boards the boat incognito while the mystical being Riolobo (Mark S Doss) - appearing here as a sailor - calls 'all aboard'. Photo: George Hixson/Houston Grand Opera

The music of this opera [listen -- CD1 track 1, 0:02-1:12] reflects Catán's knowledge of the works of Puccini, Ravel, Debussy and Richard Strauss, but it is never derivative. Catán also integrates musical elements from Latin America and Japan into this lush mixture. The orchestra consists of forty five musicians, most of whom play wind instruments. It also has a small number of strings and a sizable percussion section which includes marimbas, steel drums and an African drum called a Djembe.

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Copyright © 23 November 2003 Maria Nockin, Arizona USA

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