When Osvaldo Golijov’s first opera Ainadamar was presented at Santa Fe Opera in 2005, The Los Angeles Times wrote, “Golijov’s score is amazing, in its opening distant trumpet calls, its insinuating dance rhythms, its vital command of percussion, and its arrestingly beautiful arias for women’s voices.” The opera is centered on the celebrated Spanish poet Federico García Lorca’s early play Mariana Pineda, in which he seemingly foretells the circumstances of his own death. The focus is on three real-life characters: Margarita Xirgu, a famous Spanish actre­ss whose support of García Lorca elevated his career; García Lorca himself; and the 19th-century folk heroine Mariana Pineda, about whom García Lorca wrote one of his first plays, and in which Margarita Xirgu played the leading role.

­THE­ CAST
Margarita Xirgu - Dawn Upshaw*
Nuria - Jessica Rivera*
Federico García Lorca - Kelley O'Connor*
Ramón Ruiz Alonso - Jesus Montoya*

THE CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor - Miguel Harth-Bedoya*
Stage Director - Jose Maria Condemi
Costume Designer - Rebecca Senske
Lighting Designer - Thomas C. Hase
Chorus Master - Henri Venanzi
Production - Jose Maria Condemi

*indicates company debut 

Cincinnati Opera proudly premieres a new staging of the piece with the cast who performed Ainadamar during the “Passion of Osvaldo Golijov,” Lincoln Center’s month-long festival dedicated to the composer. This cast includes world-renowned, four-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw making her much-anticipated Cincinnati Opera debut as Margarita Xirgu. Ms. Upshaw’s “radiant lyric voice” (The New York Times) was Golijov’s inspiration for composing the piece. Ms. Upshaw’s ability to reach to the heart of music and text has earned her both the devotion of an exceptionally diverse audience and the awards and distinctions accorded to only the most distinguished of artists.

Hailed by The New York Times as a “vocally luminous young soprano,” Jessica Rivera debuts in Cincinnati as Margarita’s student, Nuria. Ms. Rivera recently created the role of Kumudha in John Adams’s newest opera, A Flowering Tree, and is quickly establishing herself as one of the most artistically imaginative performers of the classical and contemporary music scene.

Kelley O’Connor, whose “dark, low mezzo-soprano and expressive stage presence are those of a riveting singer emerged, not emerging” (Los Angeles Times), debuts in Cincinnati in the pants role of Federico García Lorca, a role for which she has received international critical acclaim. The haunting role of Ramón Ruiz Alonso is sung by a true flamenco vocalist, Jesus Montoya.

Miguel Harth-Bedoya, who led the world stage premiere, makes his Cincinnati debut as conductor. Directing is Argentina-born Jose Maria Condemi, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and director of Cincinnati Opera's 2004 Don Giovanni.

Lighting designer is Thomas C. Hase; costume designer is Rebecca Senske; and chorus master is Henri Venanzi.

Cincinnati Opera’s 2009 Season Presenting Sponsors of Ainadamar are Linda & Harry Fath and Cathy & Tom Crain. This production is underwritten by Cathy & Tom Crain, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Evening performances of Ainadamar are sponsored by Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack, and Ann and Harry Santen, in support of contemporary opera in Cincinnati.