Show liberates Greek goddess

By Christine Finnegan

The Orchestra of New Spain (ONS) presents the American debut of Love Conquers Impossible Love, a comic zarzuela of 1710, February 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Moody Performance Hall, which is located at 2520 Flora Street.  

The zarzuela is a form of Spanish musical theatre in which the dramatic action is carried through an alternating combination of song and speech. Love Conquers Impossible Love tells the story of the imprisoned Danae, the Greek goddess of music and poetry, liberated in a spectacular shower of gold.

Sung in Spanish with the dialogue in English, the production will be brought to life by Mexican stage director Federico Figueroa, whose career has taken him to the major opera houses of Spain, including the Teatro de la Zarzuela and the Teatro Real. Costume and set design will be overseen by Antonio Bartola, whose expertise in Spain’s performing arts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries will attest to authenticity of the costumes, lighting and sets redolent of the era. Baroque dance sequences within the opera and a “Danza Española” interlude will be choreographed by Jaime Puente.

“This is only the second contemporary production of Impossible and we have assembled a top tier team to bring the American debut to Dallas,” said ONS Artistic Director Grover Wilkins. “We are thrilled to have celebrated Mexican Mezzosoprano Carla López-Speziale as Jupiter along with Madrid’s Pilar Tejero portraying Juno and several talented local actors and singers, including Jendi Tarde and David Thompson.”

Tickets are available through ticketdfw.com or by calling 214-871-5000.