Opera of Rudolfo Anaya’s ‘Bless Me, Ultima’ set to premiere
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The opera adaptation of Rudolfo Anaya’s famed novel “Bless Me, Ultima,” one of the most recognizable works of Mexican-American literature, is set to premiere in Albuquerque.
Organizers say all five dates for a performance based on the book some scholars believed sparked the Chicano literary movement in the late 1960s already have been sold out.
The opera, a collaboration with Opera Southwest written by California-based composer Hector Armienta, is scheduled to open Feb. 18 at National Hispanic Cultural Center. It stars mezzo-soprano Kirstin Chavez and runs until Feb. 25.
Center executive director Rebecca Avitia said the excitement around the “Bless Me, Ultima” opera shows that Latinos will attend opera productions if they can recognize the themes and if the productions have Hispanic performers.