Rising actress and lyric soprano Natalia Ferreiro will shine bright in the Los Angeles premiere of the world's first mariachi musical, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon). at the Valley Performing Arts Center - The Soraya.
This acclaimed Spanish-language opera brings together this original production for three special performances on February 16-18, 2018. This story of immigration and family was originally created by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán's legendary former leader Jose "Pepe" Martinez and Broadway writer/director Leonard Foglia.
Blending the folk traditions of mariachi music with opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna weaves a cross-border story of two families and three generations. This struggle to exist between two cultures is revealed as memories of a dying grandfather, carrying the audience between past and present. Ferreiro joins in the passionate tale as his American-born granddaughter, Diana.
Originally commissioned in 2010 by Houston Grand Opera, this new production comes from director Dan Guerrero and musical director Jose "Pepe" Martinez, Jr., son of the original composer. Ferreiro is thrilled at the opportunity to share in this one-of-a-kind operatic experience, adding "I am thrilled and humbled to have been chosen to share the stage with opera greats, Suzanna Guzmán and Daniel Rodríguez, and legendary culture phenomenon and incredible musicians, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. You can't help but feel emotional listening to this heartfelt music; the story these characters tell is universal, as they deal head-on with true, human emotions."
Then later this season, Ferreiro will join the South Pasadena Community Chorus and Orchestra as a soprano soloist in Johann Sebastian Bach's Magnificat. Plus, it was just announced that she will play the role of Ida in Dei Fledermaus with Landmark Opera.
Born in Spain and raised in Virginia, Ferreiro has been heralded as "a natural" and "engaging" on the Opera scene. Proving a global talent, she made her European debut in Italy last summer in the Narni Arts Festival singing in Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica. In addition, she appeared in Landmark Opera's Don Giovanni; Madame Butterfly with the Marina del Rey Symphony and Redland's Bowl; and regularly with Pacific Opera Project, including a sold-out performance of Abduction from the Seraglio at the Ford Ampitheatre.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Ferreiro has landed numerous on-screen projects. Most recently, she appeared in a Spanish-speaking role in James Franco's feature film The Labyrinth, and as a villain in the cult horror feature film V/H/S Viral. In the digital arena, she guest starred on the Stan Lee produced YouTube series Superguy and Friends, and emerged in the Virtual Reality short film Going Home, which recently premiered at VR Days Europe in Amsterdam.
Ferreiro is a true multi-talented artist. An award-winning, professional oil painter, she became the youngest member at 11-years old to join the NCC NSTDP (Nation's Capital Chapter of the National Society of Tole and Decorative Painters). Last summer, she was honored with an Anonymous Grant for an Artist Residency in France, allowing her to spend two weeks painting in the countryside at Chateau Orquevaux. She earned a B.A. in Theatre, Speech and Dance from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she studied theatre, musical theatre, opera, film and fine art.
For more about NATALIA FERREIRO visit: www.NataliaFerreiro.com
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna - Valley Performing Arts Center
Date: Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February 17 at 8:00pm; Sunday, February 18 at 3:00pm
Location: The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Arts (The Soraya), Northridge, CA
Tickets + Information visit: ValleyPerformingArtsCenter.org
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