On July 24 and July 26, 2026, OPERA IN THE PARK Portland will present two free outdoor concert performances of José “Pepe” Martínez and Leonard Foglia’s “Cruzar la cara de la luna” (“To Cross the Face of the Moon”).

Baritone Octavio Moreno and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte, both members of the original Houston Grand Opera cast that premiered the work in September 2010, will reprise the roles of Laurentino and Renata. Nicholas Fox, the company’s Artistic Director, will conduct an ensemble combining mariachi instrumentation with a symphonic orchestra and chorus, using the orchestration by David Hanlon that was commissioned by Minnesota Opera. The cast also includes César Delgado as Rafael, Gemanereida Barragán Cruz as Lupita, Adrian Rosales as Mark, Esteban Zúñiga Calderón as Chucho, Judy Yannini as Diana, Christian Baeff as Víctor, and Moses Estrada as Young Rafael.

The Hillsboro performance will take place on July 24 at Shute Park at 6:30 p.m., presented in partnership with the City of Hillsboro and Hillsboro Parks & Recreation. The Portland performance will take place on July 26 at Peninsula Park at 6 p.m., presented in partnership with Fuller Events.

“OPERA IN THE PARK Portland’s mission is to bring authentic, world-class opera to those who may never otherwise be able to hear it live, with no monetary barrier to entry,” said Fox, per an official press release. “With our upcoming presentation of this landmark work of cultural fusion and transcendence, never has the organization’s mission been more directly and forcefully applied. OPERA IN THE PARK Portland is proud, and privileged, to be presenting Cruzar la cara de la luna.”

A preview broadcast will air on July 23 on All Classical Radio’s “Thursdays @ Three” program.