(Photo credit: Simon Pauly)

Opera San José brings free music to the community, in celebration of the first Spanish language opera performed on its mainstage.

Free community concerts with excerpts from “Florencia en el Amazonas” are offered on March 22 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, March 24 at the Biblioteca Latinoamericana Library, and at the East San José Carnegie Library on April 7. On April 5 the California Theatre hosts the Downtown San Jose SoFA District’s evening art walk, offering free music and activities, including performances from “Florencia en el Amazonas.” The festivities will include Folklórico dancers, a Mariachi band, traditional food, and activities such as butterfly origami crafts and face painting.

The company will then close its 40th anniversary season with “Florencia en el Amazonas,” by Mexican composer Catán. The opera is set on a 20th-century riverboat sailing the Amazon River, following a famous opera singer who is returning home to perform, while hoping to reunite with her lover, a butterfly hunter who has disappeared into the jungle.

Soprano Marlen Nahhas performs the title role of Florencia Grimaldi, with soprano Melissa Sondhi, and mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Paz, tenor César Delgado, baritones Efraín Solís and Ricardo José Rivera, and bass-baritone Vartan Gabrielian.”Florencia en el Amazonas” is performed in Spanish with English and Spanish supertitles. Celebrated Latina international director Crystal Manich helms the production with Opera San José Director of Music Joséph Marcheso conducting.

The production takes place April 20 – May 5 at the California Theatre. A panel discussion with performers, artists, and others to discuss the background of this magical realism production takes place prior to the April 25 performance, and on April 26 Opera San José hosts a “Classically Curious” night for young professionals with a passion for opera.