Fort Worth Opera brings a fresh take on ‘Zorro’ with help from famed composer

The hundred-year-old story of Zorro, the masked avenger of Spanish lineage who comes to save the day, has been told in several novels, films, and television shows. But Fort Worth Opera is bringing a fresh take on this tale to the stage this month with the help of Hector Armienta, a famed composer without peer.

Set in California back in 1814, Zorro has plenty of sword fighting action and suspense, but the story also draws on the history and politics of the era, when political turmoil in Spain led to opportunities for revolution in what was known as New Spain, which included Mexico and parts of the United States. The score also features Mexican folk music, mariachi, flamenco and boleros. Before moving on to Albuquerque and San Jose, “Zorro” will have its world premiere at Rose Marin Theater with performances on Jan. 26, 28, and 30.

The founder and artistic director of San Jose opera company Opera Cultura, Armienta is a rare composer-librettist known for capturing Spanish music in the classical realm. He also took up videogame development as a hobby, which led to an animated opera about farm workers during the pandemic, “Mi Camino,” which will screen at film festivals this year. A Mexican American, he writes librettos with themes of being stuck between two cultures.

“The take that I have on Zorro is that he is a young Spanish man who was born in Los Angeles and then his father sends him to military school in Spain,” Armienta said. “He comes back to Los Angeles and sees the plight of the people and gets caught up in the political upheaval in Mexico. Zorro saves the day, but he is also the one to empower those who are powerless. And his love interest is a woman who is of mixed blood, European and indigenous.”

Armienta says he struggled to secure funding for “Zorro” because it is bilingual, with characters alternating between English and Spanish dialogue.

“It was a challenge from the beginning to find a company that would produce it,” Armienta said. “The expectation was that I would write only in Spanish. I am very grateful to the Fort Worth Opera.”

“Hector told me about ‘Zorro’ in 2018,” said Fort Worth Opera artistic director Joe Illick. “I thought it was a brilliant idea, taking both the passion and politics of the story and turning it into an opera. He has poured his heart into the characters and their situations. The poor are held in place by the racism of the caste system, which condemns them to a lifetime of menial jobs. “Zorro” is at once an old story and a very timely one. We are grateful to be able to present this production to our community.”

Audience members are required to wear masks and provide a negative COVID-19 test with 72 hours before performance or voluntarily show proof of vaccination.

For tickets and more info, visit fwopera.org.