There’s a New Opera About Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in the Works
When is the last time you went to the opera? If you’re like me, it’s been a while
Photo: Unsplash/@joshstyle
When is the last time you went to the opera? If you’re like me, it’s been a while. But there is one way we’d definitely run to the opera, and that’s to experience the life of Frida Kahlo on stage. It’s being reported that an opera based on the life of Frida and Diego Rivera is in the works.
It’s called “The Last Dream of Frida & Diego.” El Universal says that the music will be composed by Latin Grammy winner Gabriela Lena Frank, and the opera will be written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Nilo Cruz.
“My music is very dramatic and the opera proposes a very intimate encounter between Diego and Frida,” Frank said during a press conference, according to El Universal. “To me, music is like Mozart with lyrics. We have a lot of work ahead of us. I want to create an opera that cannot be easily labeled.”
We’re very curious to see what’s in store primarily because there’s such amazing talent attached to this project. While there’s no cast yet, producers say they’d like to work with Latino actors.
The crew, along with Cruz and Frank, visited Frida’s Blue House in Mexico City. See some of the images of that trip below.
Here’s some details about the show, according to El Universal. “In 24 hours, Frida and Diego will relive their tumultuous relationship through their paintings, reminding the love, passion and even the pain that once joined them.” The story takes place in Mexico City in 1957, during the celebration of the Dia de Muertos. “Diego Rivera is walking on a cemetery, yearning to reunite with his deceased Frida. The Catrina lets the painter know the muralist is looking for her, and, reluctantly, Frida agrees to meet Diego and lead him towards the world of the dead.”
Okay, we’re already hooked.
The opera will premiere in Texas, but producers want to make this a traveling opera so hopefully that means we’ll all be able to experience at a theater near us. The one snag in this whole thing is that the show isn’t set to open until 2020!!!! Yes, it feels like we’ll be waiting forever for this show. But we suppose that also means it’ll be even better and worth the wait.
