Maria De Buenos Aires

Performance Dates

Thursday, January 21 @ 8:00 PM – Sydney Laurence Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, January 22 @ 8:00 PM – Sydney Laurence Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, January 23 @ 8:00 PM – Sydney Laurence Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Sunday, January 24 @ 4:00 PM – Sydney Laurence Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts

Sung in Spanish with projected English titles

For TICKETS call (907) 263-ARTS (2787) or online CLICK HERE

Photo Gallery

Photos by Kathleen Behnke and Justin Connaher from our production of Maria de Buenos Aires. Catalina Cuervo as “Maria”, Luis Alejandro Orozco as “El Payador” and Milton Loayza as “El Duende” with members of the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy.

Maria collage 1- 1600 x 800 Maria collage 4 1600x 800 Maria Collage 4 (2) maria collage 2 1600 x 800

Synopsis

Astor Piazzolla‘s revolutionary nuevo tango score and Horacio Ferrer‘s mesmerizing poetry unite the ethereal realm with the physical world to portray the spiritual journey of the opera’s heroine. Maria de Buenos Aires fights for survival and freedom, never surrendering. “I dream a dream that nobody ever dreamed. María noche, María pasión fatal! María del amor!” Sensual and pulsing to the beat of Argentine tango, this mesmerizing tale of a woman totally consumed by passion, and her reckless search for love and freedom, intoxicates the eye and the ear. Each step she takes is driven by haunting melodies and accompanied by an orchestra unique to the Argentine sound. Piazzolla’s seductive score is irresistible and electrifying; Ferrer’s poetry compelling and provocative. Like the tango itself, Maria de Buenos Aries entwines you in its fierce embrace and never lets you go!

In the slums of Buenos Aires, there lived a girl named Maria. People say Maria was ‘born on a day when God was drunk…with a curse in her voice’. Travelling to the city she is seduced by an underworld moving to the passionate beat of the argentine tango. In a dangerous waterfront bar she becomes consumed by the fiery dance. Seedy characters plan her death, but her shadow returns to haunt the streets…

Anchorage Opera invites you to discover Maria de Buenos Aires, an intoxicating mix of opera, jazz and tango by the legendary Astor Piazzolla and poet Horacio Ferrer. The Sydney Laurence stage is transformed into a Buenos Aires tango bar filled with escorts, waiters, dancers and entertainers. The drama is real, the music is imperative, and your experience will be unforgettable.

This Alaskan premiere of Maria de Buenos Aires is proudly presented by Anchorage Opera in association with Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy and featuring local Tango club dancers.

Free Pre-Opera Talks

Plan to join us one hour before each performance of Maria de Buenos Aires to learn the interesting background of the work and fascinating insights into the only opera ever composed in the seductive language of the Argentine tango. We are proud to present our colleague in the arts, Michael Jungreis, as your Pre-Opera Talk Host for Maria de Buenos Aires. Michael is well-known to Anchorage audiences as the host of KLEF’s “Saturday Night at the Opera”.

Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 pm in the Sydney Laurence Theatre
Friday, January 22 at 7:00 pm in the Sydney Laurence Theatre
Saturday, January 23 at 7:00 pm in the Sydney Laurence Theatre
Sunday, January 24 at 3:00 pm in the Sydney Laurence Theatre

Cast

Production Team

“Maria” – Catalina Cuervo

“El Duende” – Milton Loayza

Conductor – Douglas Kinney Frost

Stage Director – Adam Cates

“El Payador” – Luis Alejandro Orozco

Bandoneon – David Alsina

Lighting Designer – Cedar Cussins

Alaska Airlines – Official Airline Sponsor

Anchorage Opera thanks Alaska Airlines, Official Airline Sponsor for Maria de Buenos Aires, for transportation of artists to Anchorage.