The San Diego Opera will present the world premiere of El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego), a Spanish language opera exploring the relationship of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, who inspired generations of artists.
Written by Grammy Award Winning Composer Gabriela Lena Frank and Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Nilo Cruz, the opera is set in 1957 during El Dia De Los Muertos. Surrounded by candles and the fragrance of marigolds, the great muralist Diego Rivera, played by baritone Alfredo Daza, longs to see his deceased wife, Frida Kahlo, played by mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Paz, once more.
“This is a beautiful love story,” Director Lorena Maza said. “It depicts a tragic love story because they had an amazing, contradictory, beyond-live love story. It is also a journey from the underworld and back.”
According to Maza, the story speaks about the duality of life and death, their passion for art, and rediscovering identity. Their story also shows forgiveness and surrender.
“The context couldn't be more dramatic. It is Diego’s last day on earth on Dia de Muertos. He is afraid to die, so he invokes the love of his life to help him cross. But, he is an atheist, and she needs someone to hold onto and guide him into the underworld—to the Mictlan. But that is why he calls on Frida to cross because she is his one unconditional love, and he needs her," Maza said.
Catrina, the keeper of the souls, approaches Frida in the afterlife and explains that Diego desperately needs his beloved wife as the end of his life approaches.
“Why would she want to come back to the agony again? So she doesn't listen, and the Catrina comes back to facilitate that dialogue so she can come back and help Diego. Catrina brings Frida back, although she warns Frida that she cannot touch Diego or she will feel the pain again.”
Maza said it is Leonardo, another character in the Mictlan that convinces Frida to return for her art.
“It was more her looking for her own identity as a person that brings her back than Diego’s fear or love for her. It is very interesting because we also have a component about being who you are through art,” Maza said.
Frida and Diego relive their tumultuous love for 24 hours through their paintings and embrace the passion they shared. Maza said it is the recognition that through life experiences, one can rediscover their identity which stands out the most.
“It is understanding that life brings all these different challenges and emotions, and through that, Frida gained her talent, strength, and her love for life. I think that is very moving.” Maza said.
There were many challenges in directing an opera based on two universal artists. One of the largest challenges the team faced in creating the opera was to “find a simple, unique universe to put Frida and Diego in, without disappointing what everyone knows about them,” Maza notes, and not reproduce what is on mainstream media.
“We asked ourselves, how do we depict these characters as human beings, who loved, suffered, lived, and searched for identity and happiness? How do we embrace their uniqueness with so much dignity? Frida being disabled, and both of them being communist, both of them looking back at the Mexican indigenous past that had never before been recognized in their art,” Maza said.
The roughly two-hour opera will be shown at the Civic Theatre on Oct. 29, Nov. 1 and 4 at 7 p.m., and on Nov.6 at 2:30 p.m.
Visit San Diego Theatres at https://sandiegotheatres.org/event/2022/10/el-ultimo-sueno-de-frida-y-diego to view dates, purchase tickets and to learn more about El último sueño de Frida y Diego.
