“Cruzar la Cara de la Luna,” often celebrated as the world’s first mariachi opera, will bring a profound story of family ties, migration, and cultural identity to the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, April 5 at 5 p.m.
This one-night-only event promises to merge the buoyant spirit of mariachi music with the emotional depth of opera, forging a connection with Amarillo’s diverse audience.
Bridging borders through music
Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera and first performed in 2010, “Cruzar la Cara de la Luna” (Spanish for “To Cross the Face of the Moon”) integrates two vibrant musical traditions. Rather than using a typical orchestra, the production features the Grammy-winning Mariachi Los Camperos on stage. Their trumpets, violins, guitars, and vocals complement the soaring voices of internationally acclaimed opera singers, resulting in a fusion unlike anything else in the operatic repertoire.
Mary Jane Johnson, general director of Amarillo Opera, spent nearly two years securing the rights and assembling the team for this highly anticipated show…