Eight vocalists, a string quintet and a pianist will bring a two-hour blend of opera and Spanish zarzuela to the Sanctuary of the Arts on July 25-26.
Fine Arts of Miami, a local nonprofit, is staging "Carrousel of Hearts" on July 25 at 7:30 p.m. and July 26 at 3 p.m. at 410 Andalusia Ave. The city of Coral Gables has listed the production on its official events calendar.
The 120-minute staged concert weaves arias from opera and zarzuela into a Belle Époque-inspired storyline set inside a 1900s carnival fair. The plot follows characters whose lives intersect at the carnival, with the production using music, movement and theatrical vignettes to tell the story.
The cast features vocalists Paola Elorza, Beatriz Marie Menendez, Roxana Triana, Stephanie Paige Newman, Nelson Martinez, Gabriel La Sallette Menendez, Aurelio Gutierrez and Hamilton Gutierrez. They'll be accompanied by the String Quintet of Fine Arts of Miami and pianist Marcela Martinez. The singers perform without microphones in the venue's roughly 314-seat concert hall.
A Spanish Genre With Deep Roots in Latin America
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, blending operatic vocals with popular songs and dance. The form originated in 17th-century Spain and spread throughout Cuba and Latin America, making it culturally resonant for South Florida's large Spanish-speaking community.
Tickets and Venue Details
Tickets are available at fineartsofmiami.com or at the Sanctuary of the Arts box office. Pricing was not listed on the venue's ticketing page as of mid-July.
The Sanctuary of the Arts sits on Andalusia Avenue between Le Jeune Road and Ponce de Leon Boulevard, walkable from Miracle Mile's restaurants and shops.
Upcoming Community Events
- July 25, 7:30 p.m. — "Carrousel of Hearts," Sanctuary of the Arts, 410 Andalusia Ave., Coral Gables
- July 26, 3 p.m. — "Carrousel of Hearts" (matinee), Sanctuary of the Arts, 410 Andalusia Ave., Coral Gables
- Oct. 23-24 — "The Ghost Night Light / Opera in the Dark" (Fine Arts of Miami), Lehman Theater at MDC, 11380 NW 27th Ave., Miami
