Lyric Opera 2021-2022 Issue 4 Florencia en el Amazonas

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 30 Magical journey Andrea Puente Catán welcomes Florencia en el Amazonas to Lyric When Daniel Catán’s music is performed in any important venue, it’s likely that Andrea Puente Catán will be present. As her late husband’s most passionate and persuasive advocate, she’s the best possible guide to Catán’s musically ravishing, dramatically riveting Florencia en el Amazonas , the first Spanish-language opera Lyric Opera of Chicago has ever presented in its mainstage season. Originally a professional harpist, Puente Catán is former cultural ambassador of California’s U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, and currently holds the position of director of major gifts and Hispanic initiatives at San Diego Opera. Nonetheless, her greatest mission is to encourage interest in Catán’s music internationally. When reached By Roger Pines via Zoom, she was deep into planning a full-length film of Catán’s opera Rappaccini’s Daughter , a bi-national project to be produced in San Diego and Mexico. “I think Daniel and I still have a continuing partnership,” says Puente Catán. “When you get married, you say ‘in life and death.’ This is a clear example of going beyond death. I’m Daniel’s biggest supporter in the way I dedicate my life to promoting his works. I share them with so many people! It’s important that his music continues to be played, and that people’s hearts are touched by it.” When San Diego Opera presented Rappaccini’s Daughter in 1993, Daniel Catán’s music was comparatively little known in America; the piece was the first opera by a Lynn Lane Florencia el el Amazonas (Houston Grand Opera).