LA Opera will present the company premiere of El último sueño de Frida y Diego, The Last Dream of Frida and Diego with six performances November 18 – December 9 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
The new opera by composer Gabriela Lena Frank and librettist Nilo Cruz draws an international cast in a tribute to two iconic Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. When a desperate wish on Day of the Dead reunites Diego Rivera with his wife Frida Kahlo, Diego jumps at the chance to seek forgiveness, but Frida refuses to return to the world that caused her so much pain, until another departed soul inspires her to look back at the art and the man she once loved.
This provides the impetus for Mexico’s renowned artists and infamously stormy lovers and their paintings to come alive as the artists’ emblematic paintings blend with a folklore-inspired score to provide a fresh perspective on the love-hate saga of the famous couple.
The opera is sung in Spanish with subtitles in both English and Spanish with a running time of approximately two hours and 15 minutes which includes one intermission. The production includes brief nudity, viewer discretion is advised.
Special events planned for the production include a Newcomer Night on Thursday Nov 30 that will include a pre-show talk introducing the story and music as well as a reception with wine and desserts during intermission. Celebración de las Artes hosted by Hispanics for LA Opera on Sunday, Dec 3 performance will provide music, food and fun on the plaza. For more information about the production and tickets, please visit LAOpera.org/Frida.