Opera “Tienda”

February 2020.

Commissioned and performed in 2019 for the Schubert Club, Reinaldo Moya’s opera “Tienda” presents a relatable struggle around issues of racism and assimilation in America through the lens of the opera’s protagonist Luís Garzón, one of the first Mexican immigrants to Minnesota in the 1880s. Rafael had the honor of conducting the 2019 premiere in St. Paul and was thrilled to be able to share the experience of performing this music with the Augsburg University Orchestra for a staged production during the university’s sesquicentennial year. The orchestra was joined for this performance by a contingent of string players from the University of Costa Rica – Pacific who spent the week in residency preparing to perform the opera, visiting with local high school orchestras, and getting to know some of the sites around the Twin Cities.