La Llorona

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  About Opera Cultura

MISSION

Opera Cultura's mission is to explore new forms of music theater and opera through a cross cultural lens. It accomplishes this by presenting original works by Hector Armienta (artistic director of Opera Cultura) and staging existing repertoire in innovative and non traditional ways. Mr. Armienta's vision and that of the organization is to develop a core of work that serves as a cultural bridge between communities. In doing so, Opera Cultura extends the boundaries and definition of the art form. Further, Opera Cultura seeks to provide both performance and training opportunities to artists that reflect the broader community.

As we move forward, we intend to explore new collaborations with artists and organizations across cultures and disciplines. One of our recent collaborations included the working the local ethnic dance artists on the Death and Transcendence project.

It is also our mission to provide arts education and training programs, particularly for those that have not had the opportunity to participate in such programs in the past.

HISTORY

Our programming in the past has included presenting opera, showcasing local performing artists, collaborating with ethnic folk dance artists, and providing performing arts training programs in schools and at various locations throughout San Jose. Our first presentation was the co production of Armienta’s chamber opera Rio de Mujeres with the Mission Chamber Orchestra in fall of 2008. Since then, we have presented performances at Movimiento de Arte y Cultura ( MACLA), the Mexican Heritage Plaza and other venues. In fall of 2010, we worked with local dance artists to explore the theme of death and transcendence across cultures; it culminated in a video production at CreaTV and a live performance at MACLA in December 2010. With funding from the Silicon Community Foundation, we also provided a composition artist-in-residency program at San Jose High School the same year. In 2011, we produced several projects. They included an opera artist in residency at the Luther Burbank School District, the second annual summer performing arts conservatory program at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, and presented at the Ultima Parada - A Celebration of Life on the Day of the Dead Event at San Jose Women’s club. In January 2012 , we co - produced Armienta’s musical drama/operetta La Llorona at New York’s Teatro Latea. This coming year, we will be producing our annual summer performing arts conservatory program, providing a musical theater program at program at the Montalvo Arts Center, and the San Jose premiere of Armienta’s La lLorona at the School of Arts and Culture @MHP. .