Fine Arts of Miami Reimagines Opera With ‘Carrousel of Hearts’

 Paola Elorza is part of the cast of “Carrousel of Hearts,” a Fine Arts Miami production that will be presented at the Sanctuary of the Arts in Coral Gables on July 25 and 26. (Photo by Esteban Slaibe, courtesy of Fine Arts of Miami)

The upcoming “Carrousel of Hearts” by Fine Arts of Miami marks a significant shift in the artistic direction of the non-profit arts organization.

“Unlike previous concerts focused exclusively on vocal performance, this production weaves arias into a continuous narrative while fully respecting the original lyrics. The result is a theatrical experience that combines dramaturgy and classical music without altering their essence,” according to Beatriz C. Menéndez, CFO and Acting Executive Director of Fine Arts of Miami.

“Carrousel of Hearts” will be performed on Saturday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 26, at 3 p.m. at the Sanctuary of the Arts in Coral Gables.

Menéndez says that by weaving arias into a story audiences get something refreshing and new, but also adds that it is done without changing the lyrics or the essence of “these classical music gems.”

Beatriz Marie Menéndez in “María La O.” (Photo by Griselle Delgado Arias, courtesy of Fine Arts of Miami)

“Carrousel of Hearts” draws inspiration from the Belle Époque and is set at a village fair, where various couples interact amidst lights, music, and nostalgia.

“Jealousy, envy, love, and heartbreak emerge in brief dialogues (in Spanish) that link the musical scenes and bring the characters to life. Given its narrative structure and blend of singing and acting, the performance functions like a lyrical musical—or even a miniature contemporary ‘zarzuela’—while remaining faithful to the original repertoire,” explains Menéndez.

She says that each is performed using authentic “bel canto: technique, without amplification—fostering natural beauty, projection, and precise vocal placement within the production’s Belle Époque carnival setting. It is a choice that entails multiple challenges.”

Meanwhile, soprano Beatriz Marie Menéndez, who also serves as the production’s artistic director, states: “The greatest challenge—and possibly the most rewarding aspect—of performing in the ‘bel canto’ style without amplification is the immense demand for vocal integrity and acoustic projection.”

Beatriz Marie Menéndez says that compared to modern performances that rely on microphones, “bel canto” compels the singer to be fully present in the space and in control of their own body.

“You cannot rely on technology to convey the emotional nuance of a phrase. The connection to the music must stem directly from technique, and you must trust that all your training is deeply ingrained in your body.”

The comprehensive and wide-ranging repertoire features arias from operas beloved by genre enthusiasts, such as “Rigoletto”, “Marina”, “L’elisir d’amore”, “La Traviata”, “Così fan tutte”, “Don Pasquale”, “Carmen”, and “Don Giovanni,” among others.

Also included are selections from zarzuelas such as “Doña Francisquita”, “La tabernera del puerto”, “El dúo de La africana”, “La verbena de la Paloma”, and “La revoltosa”, to name but a few. Nor is the romantic touch overlooked, provided by the immortal “Damisela encantadora” by Ernesto Lecuona.

Aurelio Gutiérrez, Beatriz Marie Menéndez, and Gabriel La Salette Menéndez.
(Photo by Griselle Delgado Arias, courtesy of Fine Arts of Miami)

“The process of building this repertoire was deeply rooted in a commitment to storytelling,” adds Beatriz Marie Menéndez. “A significant amount of my time was spent translating the pieces I was considering word for word, which allowed me to grasp the emotional core of each one. However, a traditional program of scenes usually keeps the pieces within the context of their original operas. In my case, I decided to take these pieces out of their original contexts and weave them into a completely new narrative.”

She will be playing one of the sisters, a character she describes as being “caught in a web of deceit after being unfaithful to her boyfriend, who must then face the weight of her actions and their consequences. To bring this emotional journey to life, I will perform several pieces from Mozart’s ‘Così fan tutte’ that perfectly capture the conflict and complexity of her experience. I am also excited to include a duet from ‘La Revoltosa, ‘ which adds a wonderful layer of passion to the narrative,” she concludes.

The cast includes baritones Nelson Martínez and Gabriel La Salette Menéndez, mezzo-soprano Paola Elorza, tenor Aurelio Hernández, Hamilton Gutiérrez, soprano Roxana Triana, and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Page Newman.

“My role is that of a young woman who doesn’t quite know how to handle her feelings; she is in love but full of insecurities, which stirs up anger in her, yet also tenderness and a sense of letting go,” says Elorza.

“I love the role because the character is actually a lot like I was as a teenager. The biggest challenge lies in the difficulty of each aria I perform, which requires constant study, dedication, and the refinement of vocal technique—something that has taken me years. But therein also lies the achievement: the satisfaction of being able to face an audience, perform pieces that many people know and already have a clear idea of how they should sound, and do it well—and increasingly better.”

Gabriel La Salette Menéndez is another “bel canto” artist lending his voice to the tale of love, jealousy, and destiny in “Carrousel of Hearts,” seizing what he considers a very special opportunity.

“I’ll be playing a man who, in a way, is jealous. Probably the typical macho man who tries to maintain a tough exterior, but even so, he can’t help being hopelessly in love with his wife. I really like this character because, although he tries to keep up that tough facade, he’s unable to escape love, which brings out his most romantic feelings, even when he doesn’t know how to express them very well. What do I think? That love can turn a man into a poet,” he says with conviction.

Gabriel La Salette Menéndez is another “bel canto” artist lending his voice to the tale of love, jealousy, and destiny in “Carrousel of Hearts.” (Photo by Griselle Delgado Arias, courtesy of Fine Arts of Miami)

“The collaboration between Fine Arts of Miami and Sanctuary of the Arts is a strategic artistic partnership that strengthens the cultural offerings of Coral Gables, the county, and South Florida, according to Beatriz C. Menéndez.

Regarding future projects, Fine Arts of Miami will present “Opera in the Dark: The Ghost Light Hour” at the Lehman Center in October.

She describes the new production will maintain the narrative format that characterizes the institution—arias interwoven with a continuous storyline—but will expand its artistic scale by incorporating dancers, a chorus, and a more elaborate visual design.

“Fine Arts of Miami aspires to become a cultural hallmark of the city of Miami, representing classical music and bringing it closer to audiences that have never encountered it before. Our goal is to open doors, break down preconceptions, and demonstrate that classical music—especially ‘zarzuela’—can be accessible, exciting, and deeply human,” she concludes.

WHAT: “Carrousel of Hearts”

WHERE: Sanctuary of the Arts, 410 Andalusia Ave., Coral Gables

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 25 and 3 p.m., Sunday, July 26

COST: $31 and $61at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36755/production/1270671

INFORMATION:  fineartsofmiami.com or https://www.sanctuaryofthearts.org/

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