Plácido Domingo stars in One-Night-Only Gala Performance

Plácido Domingo joins the cast of Federico Moreno Torroba’s Luisa Fernanda, a zarzuela co-production of Florida Grand Opera (FGO) and the SaludArte Foundation, in a special gala performance of the zarzuela that opens FGO's 2011-2012 season. The world renowned tenor is scheduled to sing the leading role of Vidal Hernando in a one-night-only performance for a Zarzuela Gala on November 15, 2011 at 7pm in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

The international opera star has a long personal history with zarzuela, a form of Spanish musical theater that incorporates spoken dialogue and singing. Domingo’s parents, both renowned zarzuela singers, opened a zarzuela company in Mexico where Domingo got his start and began following in his father's footsteps. Today, Domingo has numerous performances of Luisa Fernanda under his belt, singing the lead role of Vidal Hernando, which his father made famous throughout Mexico and Latin America.

For performance and post-performance gala dinner information, please email galainfo@fgo.org or contact Denise Courshon at (305) 854-1643.

For performance tickets only, please call 800-741-1010.

Important Dates
Subscribers can exchange for Gala performance – NOW
Donors of $500 or more can purchase tickets – September 19th
Subscribers can purchase additional tickets – September 19th
General Public can purchase tickets – October 17th

Gala Performance: November 15, 2011, at 7pm
Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

About Luisa Fernanda

Florida Grand Opera presents its first zarzuela, Federico Moreno Torroba’s Luisa Fernanda. Zarzuela, a popular Spanish form of musical theater, incorporates both spoken dialogue and singing. Luisa Fernanda, which had its premiere in Madrid in 1932, is considered to be the last great romantic zarzuela. People throughout the Spanish speaking world are familiar with its great musical scenes.

Luisa Fernanda takes place during the republican-monarchist conflicts of 1868 in Spain, during which Luisa, the heroine, finds herself in a romantic triangle with Javier, a dashing young army officer, and Vidal, a wealthy landowner. The production will be conducted by Pablo Mielgo and directed by Emilio Sagi.

Luisa Fernanda is a co-production of Florida Grand Opera and SaludArte Foundation.

This co-production with SaludArte is made possible in part by a generous grant from the Natioinal Endowment for the Arts. The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

Luisa Fernanda is made possible by a generous gift from J.P. Morgan.

Photos © Javier del Real for Teatro Real and Armin Bardel for Theater an der Wien.