Like Butterfly Kisses...

como besos de mariposas (Lu and Urtiaga)
that's how the two sopranos sounded like in "A Way Home", Opera To Go production created within HGOCo's Song of Houston Mexico 2010 at Miller Theater this morning.
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(Duarte, Urtiaga, Shircliffe)
An appropriate applicative since the Way is a story about a Mexican American Girl Graciela, Mezzo soprano Cecilia Duarte who sang and acted well, on her way to Mexico to scatter the ashes of her dead Mexican mother (Marisol-Soprano Amaia Urtiaga).

(Lu standing, Urtiage seated, Arrowsmith seated, Magallon, background Coombs)

In the story her mother represents one butterfly (which accompanies the girl and her father Thomas (Baritone Brian Shircliffe) to Mexico to make peace with her grandfather Agustin (Bass Dennis Arrowsmith) The other Butterfly is Karani (soprano Hannah Lu). As one knows monarchs migrate annually between Mexico and USA. Also in the story is a street vendor Ricardo (tenor Alejandro Magallon)-standing left, in the background Dyer-cello

who -as many- wants to come to the USA for a better life.

The short (45 minutes) opera is HGO's 40th World Premiere. The composer is local talent Ethan Frederick Greene with a libretto by Irene Keliher, the musicians on stage are Rebecca Coombs on keyboard and Max Dyer on the cello. Conductor/Musical preparation Kade Smith, Director/Choreographer is E. Loren Meeker.

Miller outdoor theater was filled with hundreds of kids who - to a large extent- were rather attentive, although the last 5-8 minutes a minority of the boys were getting antsy, while most girls continued to listen spellbound. questions after the opera showed a high degree of involvement and the wish to learn how an opera is created, etc.

A delightful interlude on a warm late spring day, pleasantly sung by all with minimal staging/sets and these singers were miked to carry the sound out onto the hill. Just a few pictures...from this morning!