Opera In The Heights Bilingual Holiday Children’s Opera Has Staying Power  

Evan Mack’s Lucinda y las Flores de la Noche Buena Opens Sunday, December 2, 2018

HOUSTON (November 11, 2018) – Lucinda y las Flores de la Noche Buena is a coming of age Mexican Christmas folktale revealing the moral that any gift is beautiful because it is given, featuring Mexican folk tunes and traditional Christmas carols.  Last year Opera in the Heights (Oh!) produced the Houston premiere of a bilingual and family-friendly holiday opera, Evan Mack’s Lucinda y las Flores de la Noche Buena (Lucinda and the Christmas Eve Flower).

Edith Maldonado as Lucinda in Lucinda y las Flores de la Noche Buena, Dec. 2, 2017, at Opera in the Heights

Back by popular demand, Lucinda will return to Oh! for an encore performance this holiday season. This charming opera is all about the spirit of giving while at the same time, it portrays the depth of a mother daughter relationship. There are recognizable holiday tunes throughout the piece and ample opportunity for the audience to join the cast in singing. Evan Mack, the composer for Lucinda, wrote the work with the spirit of his children in mind, making the opera inviting and approachable for all. The opera will be performed in English and Spanish with bilingual surtitles.

What: A coming of age Mexican Christmas folktale revealing the moral that any gift is beautiful because it is given, featuring Mexican folk tunes and traditional Christmas carols. Performed in English and Spanish with bilingual surtitles.
Who: Composed by Evan Mack. Libretto by Joshua McGuire.

 

LUCINDA – Priscilla Salisbury, soprano. She made her OH! debut in the role of MAMÁ in Lucinda in 2017. She’s a long-time member of Houston Grand Opera Chorus, performing comprimario roles on main stage and principal roles with HGOco.

 

MAMÁ – Jessica Colmenares, soprano. She has performed ensemble roles in OH!’s Un Ballo in Maschera and Candide.

 

NOBODY – Alejandro Magallon, tenor. He had credits with Houston Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, winner of the Lois Alba Competition.

 

EVERYBODY (yes, this is the name of the role) – Blas Canedo Gonzalez, baritone. He maintains active international performing calendar. OH! credits include Marcello in La Bohème, El Duende in María de Buenos Aires (upcoming).

 

When: Sunday, December 2, 2018, at 2:00 PM
Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11:00 AM

General admission is $10 for children and $20 for adults. For tickets call 713-861-5303 or visit www.operaintheheights.org/lucinda. Running time is 45 minutes.

 

Where: Lambert Hall, 1701 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77008
Why: “This production reflects the diverse and family-focused community in Houston. We strive engage audiences of all backgrounds. With our children’s operas we hope to dismantle the notion that opera is unapproachable or too expensive.” says Paige Myrick, Executive Director.

 

“I’m thrilled to see Lucinda come to life, with a range that suits both intimate theaters such as Houston’s Lambert Hall or grand performing art centers such as San Francisco Opera, one of the country’s most prominent opera houses,” said Evan Mack, Composer.

 

“Lucinda is a beautiful opera that demonstrates the love between a mother and a child; good vs. evil; and the true meaning of giving from the heart,” says Priscilla Salisbury, who will portray the role of Lucinda.

 

About Opera in the Heights

Opera in the Heights is a professional opera company that exists to provide a stage for emerging performers and brings affordable opera to the Greater Houston Area. All operas are fully staged with orchestra and presented in the original language with English translations projected above the stage.

Evan Mack’s Lucinda y las Flores de la Noche Buena, Dec. 2, 2017, at Opera in the Heights