Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Frida

About

An Adaptation for 2 principals (Frida, Diego) and 4 singers.

Robert X. Rodriguez about the production: "As I have said before, the Long Beach Opera production was brilliantly conceived and elegantly realized.   With fewer singing actors, the action was exquisitely concentrated and deeply satisfying.  Thank you for showing me a new and exciting vision of my work."

Reviews

Long Beach Opera did a remarkable job with minimal stage design by LBO Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek, mostly a screen with projections of artworks, including an animation of a drawing Kahlo had done after the bus accident that nearly killed her as a teen. Kahlo’s artwork is autobiographical so it is essential to any story of her life. One of the most hypnotic scenes was the surreal “wounded deer” sequence, derived from an image in one of her paintings and choreographed with four actors as Calaveras.

Julie Riggot CultureSpot LA

The drama is at its best when the direction by Andreas Mitisek focuses on the emotional/artistic conflicts that ebbed, flowed and overflowed throughout Kahlo’s marriage, divorce and remarriage to Rivera.

Jim Farber Los Angeles Daily News

Credits

Long Beach Opera  2017 

Museum of Latin American Art, Sculpture Garden

Frida Kahlo: Laura Virella
Diego Rivera: Bernardo Bermudez

Calavera 1: Alejandra Martinez
Calavera 2: Joanna Ceja
Calavera 3: Jonathan Lacayo
Calavera 4: David Castillo

Conductor: Kristof van Grysperre
Lighting Design: Dan Weingarten

Anchorage Opera  2020 
Portland Opera  2021 

Photos

Long Beach Opera 2017

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Photographer: Doris Koplik, Keith Ian Polakoff


Video