Opera Omaha launches 'The Last Dream of Frida and Diego,' first Spanish-language show (2024)

The love story between iconic artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera will take center stage in Opera Omaha’s first Spanish language production.

“El último sueño de Frida y Diego,” or “The Last Dream of Frida and Diego,” will be at the Orpheum Theater May 3 and 5.

The contemporary opera, which premiered in 2022, was written by Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz and directed by Lorena Maza.

It tells the story of Kahlo and Rivera and the relationship between the two Mexican painters. Kahlo, who died in 1954, is known for her self-portraits and lush depictions of nature. Rivera, who died three years later, is best known for his bold, large-scale murals.

Maza said she was immediately drawn to the challenge of portraying Kahlo and Rivera, two of the most well-known figures in Mexican culture. She said she also appreciated that the opera is not a biopic attempting to tell their life stories, but a distinct story about a last encounter.

“They are huge cultural icons and they are (such) important figures in Mexican art that I was obviously interested and also challenged by the idea, because they have been portrayed so many times in so many different ways,” she said.

Through the story of Kahlo and Rivera’s reunion, the opera touches on themes such as art, life and death, gender, desire, ethnicity, and ability and disability, Maza said.

“It has everything a good opera needs,” she said. “It has so many angles, that it’s really a multidimensional and multicultural view of the world.”

While Rivera and especially Kahlo have stood as larger-than-life figures in Mexican culture for decades, the opera humanizes them, Maza said.

“Yes, they are huge artists, but also they were human beings that had pain and sorrows and had a very tragic love affair or love story,” she said. “And we can all relate to those feelings.”

The opera takes place during Dia de los Muertos, when Rivera calls to Kahlo in the underworld three years after her death. Kahlo is able to come back to Earth to spend a final moment with Rivera before he himself passes away.

Representation for Spanish-speakers but approachable for all

While traditional operas are often in languages other than English, often such as Italian, French and German, Spanish-language operas aren’t as common, Maza said.

While the opera is in Spanish, subtitles will be provided during the performances and viewers will be able to understand the emotion of the music and singing even if they don’t speak Spanish, Maza said.

“There’s no way you won’t enjoy it even if you don’t speak Spanish,” she said.

Maza said she was pleasantly surprised when Opera Omaha decided to bring the production to Omaha as the opera’s first appearance outside California.

“I think it’s so unexpected and wonderful for everybody,” she said.

Maza said she hopes Spanish-speaking members of the Nebraska community will attend the opera and be able to see their culture represented and other attendees can be exposed to a different culture.

“It’s very rare to have operas in Spanish, and it’s very important because that brings new audiences so needed for the opera,” she said.

Stephanie Sanchez will portray Kahlo in the play and will appear alongside longtime friend Levi Hernandez as Rivera, she said.

Sanchez said, as a Chicana, she is excited to portray a Mexican woman and be part of a production with a Latino-led cast and creative team. She said she hopes those who attend the show appreciate seeing Kahlo in a different light.

“It’s a very powerful piece,” she said, “so I hope that people are moved by it.”

Plans to honor community connections, expand beyond arias

As Opera Omaha prepared to take on its first ever Spanish production, Lauren Medici, director of engagement programs, said they had meetings with community partners representing Omaha’s Latin community.

“Because Frida Kahlo is such a cultural icon, it was really clear from our first community group meeting in August that people have felt really strong and deep connections to Frida and we really wanted to celebrate and honor that,” she said.

As the organization often does with its productions, Opera Omaha has planned several community events to expand the reach of the opera outside the performances themselves and celebrate Kahlo and Rivera through different art forms, Medici said.

Medici said she thinks the community events are both a way to expose people who don’t typically attend the opera to the art form and expose opera attendees to different areas of the community.

The events include an ongoing exhibit at El Museo Latino showcasing photographs of the Blue House, the home where Frida lived in Mexico City that now serves as a museum. There is also an exhibit at the Mexican American Historical Society of the Midlands titled “Frida & Diego’s Odyssey in America” and a community art show at the Joslyn Castle featuring local art inspired by the opera’s story.

“A lot of it is about creating different ways and opportunities for people to have a point of entry,” Medici said.