Metamorphosis: Journey of the Human Spirit
A Collaboration with the FIU Green School
Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 6:00pm
Coral Gables Congregational Church
3010 De Soto Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134

In an exploration of the timeless themes of love, loss, and the journey to self-discovery, spoken word is set against the vibrant and luminous music of Catán’s work to transport us to the interior landscape of the human spirit.

As the first Spanish-language opera commissioned by a major U.S. opera company (Houston Grand Opera, 1996), Catán’s magical realist masterpiece Florencia en el Amazonas invites us to reflect deeply on the human condition—the joys and sorrows of life, our inextricable connection to the natural world and its forces, the mutability of existence, the yearning for redemption, and the hope for transcendence.

Metamorphosis features the glorious voices of Florida Grand Opera Studio Artists and the compelling spoken word of Florida International University scholars.

Free with reservation

Spoken and Sung
A Collaboration with GableStage
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at 7:30pm
GableStage at the Biltmore
1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134

Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas was inspired by the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez and his seminal work Love in the Time of Cholera. This conversation pairs excerpts from Catán’s masterpiece, sung by Florida Grand Opera Studio Artists, with excerpts from illuminating works of magical realism performed by actors. There will be further exploration of the Amazon as a common setting for different stories that share similar themes of journey, emotional exploration, and self-discovery.

Free with reservation

Sounds of the Rainforest
A Collaboration with Pinecrest Gardens
Date: Sunday, April 15, 2018, 6:00pm (tour) and 7:00pm (concert)
Pinecrest Gardens
11000 Red Road, Pinecrest, FL 33156

Start the evening with a tour of Pinecrest Gardens, one of the only natural rainforests in the United States. Enjoy a special lecture on the history of the Amazonian Rainforest, the setting of Florencia en el Amazonas, as well as a concert by FGO Studio Artists.

Free with reservation

Ecology of the Rainforest
A Collaboration with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2018, 7:30pm
Fairchild Tripcal Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156

Experts from the Fairchild staff discuss the preservation of the world’s largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest. The lecture is followed with highlights from Florencia en el Amazonas performed by members of the Florida Grand Opera Studio.

Free with reservation; Click here to reserve