Modesto company stages pair of one-act productions based on Latino novels
Two novels have been turned into a double bill of one-act Latino productions from Opera Modesto.
While the operas – “Bless Me, Ultima” and “Dulcinea” – are based on Latino books, they appeal to all audiences, Opera Modesto’s General Director Roy Stevens said in an email.
The productions, which come from Rudolfo Anaya’s “Bless Me, Ultima” and Miguel Cervantes’ “Don Quixote de la Mancha,” will be presented Jan. 8-9 at the State Theatre in Modesto. (There also will be special readers performances Jan. 11-12.)
They will be in Spanglish and Spanish with English supertitles, according to a press release from Opera Modesto. They will be introduced by Carolina Alfaro, director of the California State University, Stanislaus, Warrior Cross Cultural Center.
Works by Latino artists are “rarely programmed” in opera houses, Alfaro said in the press release. “I believe this is the first time that a local opera company (has promoted) something about the Latino culture. It will be a wonderful opportunity for Latino audiences new to the opera see their culture reflected on stage.”
The productions are the latest in Opera Modesto’s Story Into Song Literacy Initiative, an educational and community collaboration featuring operas based on famous literature.
The opera “Bless Me, Ultima” is by Oakland-based composer Hector Armienta, the release said. Opera Modesto commissioned the one-act chamber adaptation of the full-length opera, which premiered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“Dulcinea” is by Mauricio Sotelo, a composer from Spain. It debuted in Madrid. Opera Modesto’s production will be its U.S. premiere, according to the release.
“Opera Modesto is excited to continue its return to live and in-person performances with these two wonderful stories, based on famous books,” Stevens said in the release.
About the operas
“Bless Me, Ultima” is the coming-of-age story of a boy, Antonio (Tony) Marez, “caught between the hopes and dreams of his father and mother,” according to the press release. It follows his mentorship under his “Curandera” and protector, Ultima.
“Dulcinea” is about a boy assigned at school to read the “old, boring” book “Don Quixote de la Mancha,” the release said. “He has a fight with his mother. In his dreams, the book comes to life and he interacts in a fantastical dream landscape with Don Quixote, Sancho and other fanciful characters from the book. When he wakes, he is ready to read the book, with enthusiasm.”
The production features a cast of national leads along with recent and current students from Modesto Junior College, California State University, Stanislaus, and others, according to the release.
“We are pleased to present many wonderful artists in this production, including two native Modestans who are making their mark elsewhere, soprano Sandra Bengochea and countertenor José Luis Muñoz,” Stevens said.
Modesto resident Bengochea stars as the mother in “Dulcinea” and as Maria Marez in “Bless Me, Ultima.” The soprano is the opera theater director and voice teacher at San Jose State.
Cybele Gouverneur, a Venezuelan-American operatic mezzo-soprano from New York, stars as Ultima.
Countertenor Muñoz, who now lives in Seattle, plays Don Quixote in “Dulcinea” and the owl in “Bless Me, Ultima.”
Alicia Hurtado, a soprano from Oakland, plays Niño in “Dulcinea” and Tony/Antonio in “Bless Me, Ultima.”
Baritone Octavio Pérez Bustamante, from Mexico City and now a resident of Los Banos, plays Sancho in “Dulcinea” and Tenorio in “Bless Me, Ultima.”
Tenor Emmanuel Mercado of Stockton is Gabriel in “Bless Me, Ultima.”
Ensemble artists in “Bless Me, Ultima” are McJefferson Agloro (CSU Sacramento), Rosa Aranda (CSU Stanislaus), Merrissa Brambila (Modesto Junior College), Gaby Catipon (San Jose State University), Haimish Chandra (CSU Stanislaus), Mark Dávila (Davis High School music instructor), Maura Ortega (CSU Stanislaus), Christopher Rodriguez (CSU Fresno/University of N. Texas), Daniel Rios (San Jose State University) and Jonathan Saatman (CSU Sacramento).
In addition, four dancers from Modesto’s Central West Ballet perform in “Dulcinea”: Maria Bellamy, Izabella Duran-Soriano, Lacey Elliston and Kaitlyn King.
Stage directors are Annalisa Winberg for “Dulcinea” and Stevens for “Bless Me, Ultima.” Ryan Murray will conduct public performances, Liisa Dávila the readers performances.
Third literacy initiative
Opera Modesto’s Story Into Song Literacy Initiative began in 2019-20 with a production of the Jane Austen-based “Mansfield Park,” paired with the first-ever Central Valley Jane Austen Con, the release said.
In 2020-21, it continued with the production of a youth literacy movie, “The Race,” based on five Aesop’s Fables, which has won 70 international film awards, according to the press release.
In 2022-23, the literacy initiative will feature the works of Edgar Allan Poe, including a one-act opera, “Annabel,” based on “Annabel Lee,” commissioned by Opera Modesto from CSU Stanislaus composer Deborah Kavasch and librettist Linda Bunney-Sarhad, the release said.
The “Bless Me, Ultima” and “Dulcinea” project is supported in part by Beard Land Development, the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, according to the release.
Performances are at 2 p.m. Jan. 8-9 at the State Theatre, 1307 J St., Modesto. Tickets are $25-$40, $20 for students, available at the State, www.thestate.org.
In addition, readers performances will be held, a component of the Story Into Song initiative.
They are for students who have been reading all or parts of one or both books, Stevens said in an email. “They come to the performances with knowledge and interest of the stories and the authors, and it is exciting to see the stories come to life on the stage. Then they are more likely to continue reading.”
The readers performances are at 1 p.m. Jan. 11-12 with either free or fee attendance by arrangement with Opera Modesto by calling 209-523-6426.
