His vocal pronouncements are matched ardently to these repeated lithe movements. From the start of the opera, Vincent’s physical agility propels his movements as he drapes himself along parts of El Dorado before the journey and during significant personal encounters while the ship is on its course. Vincent is truly a bridge between stages of individuals’ development, between various stages of nature, and between individuals as thy relate to each other. The character Riolobo, in this performance by Mr. Martínez portrays skillfully the melancholy, introspective personality of the singer who, traveling here incognito, feels a dominating sense of incompleteness in her life. The character Florencia begins as an enigma: Ms. Throughout the performance Aceto’s vocal projection and remarkably flexible decorative lines in the bass register suggested his confronting nature with dutiful power and discipline. Aceto’s captain speaks to the essence of a reliable officer, one cognizant of his responsibilities to ensure the safe journey of his passengers. Hernandez produce vocal lines independent of a sense of unity. The married couple appears lost in their trifles while first on board, as Ms. Reyes sings with fervent anticipation the declamatory lines of Rosalba’s eagerness to continue with the project devoted to Florencia’s life and to hear her sing. Out of a sizeable vocal presence emerge the voices of the key passengers. The Company of Florencia en el AmazonasĪfter the orchestral prelude, crowds of passengers are seen milling about excitedly in anticipation of their journey and its goal. In essence, the character Florencia’s physical and spiritual journey is prefigured in this depiction, just as the emotional development of several couples making this same journey will resolve into a higher plane by the close of the opera’s second act. An image of butterflies appears at the summit of this forest. Ethan Vincentīefore this production of Florencia begins, the audience is confronted with a scrim depicting a lush, tropical intersection of trees and vegetation so dense that the sky seems to be darkened. The couple Paula and Alvaro, who hope to revive their marriage by sailing to Manaaus to hear Florencia Grimaldi sing at the reopened theater, are sung by Deborah Nansteel and Levi Hernandez.
The journalist writing a biography of Florencia Grimaldi is sung by Gabriella Reyes. Raymond Aceto portrayed the captain of the ship El Dorado with Mario Rojas singing the role of his nephew, Arcadio.
Ethan Vincent performed the pivotal role of Riolobo, an intermediary between reality and the spirit of the river. For its final production during Fall 2021, Lyric Opera of Chicago staged Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas with Ana María Martínez in the title role of the diva confronting her past while returning to her homeland.