Bizet’s Carmen is set in Spain, but isn’t in Spanish. It’s in French. It’s one of those weird paradigms of opera where the setting and the language do not match. That is what Pacific Opera Project tried to rectify with their recent production of Madama Butterfly. LA Opera is presenting an opera set in Spain and sung in Spanish (unlike the better-known Carmen). El Gato Montés opens this weekend for six performances starring Plácido Domingo and conducted by Jordi Bernàcer.
El Gato Montés (translation The Wildcat) depicts a classic love triangle that finds bullfighter Rafael Ruiz (Arturo Chacón-Cruz) battling a bandit, Juanillo (Domingo) – nicknamed “The Wildcat” – for the love of Soleá (Ana María Martínez). Ruiz and Soleá have already pledged themselves to one another. But for a man like Juanillo, nothing will get in the way of his desires. The opera includes fortune tellers, bullfighting, and, as in many operas, a truly tragic ending.
The opera was composed by Manuel Penella. Jorge Torres directed this production which comes from Teatro de la Zarzuela (Madrid), Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Musica. This is the first time LA Opera has presented this production of El Gato Montés.
This is a perfect first opera for newcomers. It’s sexy, it’s violent and it’s only 2 hours and 20 minutes. And it stars a man who continues to defy expectations by performing year after year. Next January he turns 79. Domingo is a man who has kept himself in great vocal shape and recognizes where his voice sounds best and chooses roles accordingly.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Plácido Domingo by Kaori Suzuki. Courtesy of LA Opera.