NPR World of Opera
Florencia en el Amazonas, by Daniel Catan

This week's opera, Daniel Catan's brilliant and atmospheric Florencia en el Amazonas, comes to us in a production from Houston Grand Opera. Actually, that's where the work had its world premiere production, back in 1996. Since then - unlike many other new operas - it has been produced several more times, by several more companies. In 2001 it returned to Houston for another highly-successful run, and that's the production we'll hear on NPR World of Opera.

If you want to know more about the opera's story, you've come to the right place - there's a synopsis below, so you can follow the action. You can also listen to a tidbit from this week's NPR World of Opera, with host Steve Curwood.

SYNOPSIS
ACT I: The drama takes place in Columbia in the early 1900's. The title character is a renowned opera star, Florencia Grimaldi. She's a South American native, but has not returned home for more than 20 years. In her youth, she fell in love with a man named Cristobal, and promised that she would return to him after establishing her career. But she never did. Distracted by fame and fortune, she lost track of Cristobal, and of her roots, as well.

As the action begins Florencia is setting sail up the Amazon on the steamship El Dorado. She's scheduled to perform in the riverside city of Manaus, and is travelling incognito. But the performance is not the true reason for her journey. She intends to search out Cristobal, hoping to regain her lost love and in the process, perhaps find the innocence of her youth, as well.

The mysterious spirit Riolobos appears. He has the ability to appear in many forms, and he introduces us to the opera's characters. Aboard the ship are its Captain, his first mate and nephew, Arcadio, and a group of passengers travelling to hear Florencia's performance. During the journey, Arcadio falls in love with the passenger Rosalba. She's an author writing a book on Florencia, whom she's never met but hopes to interview in Manaus. She's drawn to Arcadio but they both resist the attraction. Each is convinced that love can only destroy their independence, and lead to heartache. Also aboard are a couple, Alvaro and Paula, who are constantly quarreling; their longtime love seems to be going stale. Florencia remains incognito, but learns from the Captain that years ago, Cristobal went off into the jungle on an expedition, and was never seen again.

As Act I concludes, the El Dorado encounters a severe storm. Alvaro is washed overboard. The Captain is knocked unconscious. Riolobos appeals to the spirits of the Amazon, and Arcadio manages to keep the ship intact. But it runs aground as the act ends.

ACT II: Florencia wakes up in her cabin at night, with the ship still aground. She feels as though she's in a dream, and wonders aloud whether the sensation is death - and if death is the way she will finally rejoin Critobal.

Paula realizes that her differences with Alvaro were petty. Grief-stricken, she calls to the river for his return. When Riolobos calls again to the river spirits, Alvaro miraculously appears. He says hearing Paula's voice rekindled his love for her, and allowed him to survive. The El Dorado drifts back into the Amazon and continues its journey.

Rosalba finds her notebook on deck, ruined by the water. Her book on Florencia Grimaldi is lost. Florencia, still incognito, speaks with Rosalba. She notices a still-legible passage in the manuscript, saying Grimaldi was a natural talent. She say's that's not true - that Grimaldi only discovered her true potential after falling in love. Rosalba realizes that love can be a blessing. She also realizes who Florencia really is, and they embrace.

As the ship approaches Manaus, Alvaro and Paula are reconciled, and Rosalba and Arcadio are together. All anticipate Florencia's gala return to her homeland. But word comes that Manaus is suffering a cholera epidemic. No one will be allowed on shore. Florencia's journey to find Cristobal is over. She sings her final aria, and her spirit leaves her. It drifts over the river toward the jungle as the opera ends.

LINKS:

Houston Grand Opera
More Daniel Catan
NPR's At the Opera