World Premiere: August 10, 2003, Tanglewood, Lenox, MA
Commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
2005 revised version originated at Santa Fe Opera

Ainadamar is a mystical and poetic meditation on memory, politics, and exile, based on the life and work of Federico Garcia Lorca. Dawn Upshaw reprises the role of Margarita Xirgu, a Catalan actress and Garcia Lorca’s muse, which she created at Tanglewood and Santa Fe Opera. Mezzo Kelley O’Connor, who created the role of poet Federico Garcia Lorca, makes her Opera Boston debut. Jessica Rivera makes her Opera Boston debut as Nuria, a student of Margarita Xirgu. She has previously performed this role at Santa Fe Opera, and at Lincoln Center; her most recent Boston appearance was as the soprano soloist in Adams’ El Niño with the BSO.

Opera Boston presents Ainadamar in a production that originated at the Santa Fe Opera in 2005 and was originally conceived and directed by the visionary Peter Sellars. Mr. Sellars’ collaborator Robert Castro will oversee Opera Boston’s staging, and the production will use scenic designs created by Gronk for the Santa Fe Opera. Said Charnow, “With Ainadamar, Opera Boston departs from our practice of creating all-new productions because Peter’s definitive production must be seen by Boston audiences.”