Cuentos - created by Héctor Armienta - is a two-part song cycle inspired by interviews with immigrants and farmworkers in Santa Clara County and the surrounding regions.

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Cuentos

School of Arts & Culture

Opera San José presents the Northern California premiere of Héctor Armienta’s Zorro. The famed masked vigilante comes alive in this swashbuckling opera filled with romance, humor, and suspense. Set in the early 1800s in el pueblo de Los Angeles, still a colony of Spain, this thrilling new work follows the adventures of the Spanish nobleman who hides his true identity behind a black mask to become Zorro, the dashing defender of the poor and enslaved. With a lush score influenced by mariachi, flamenco, and corrido music, Zorro leaps into dashing sword fights and passionate romance while battling tyranny and corruption and defending California’s disenfranchised and indigenous peoples. Latino stage director David Radamés Toro makes his OSJ debut.

Zorro

California Theatre

The Coyotes & The Rabbits by Héctor Armienta is a one-act bilingual opera inspired by a Mexican Folk tale. Join the Chiquita Banana Sisters in a whimsical adventure where mischief meets life lessons! When Scrawny Coyote discovers that reading is just as important as hunting, he gets tangled up in the sisters' playful tricks against his cousin, Loco Coyote. Dive into this enchanting production that celebrates creativity, friendship, and the power of knowledge—perfect for audiences of all ages! Produced in partnership with San Jose-based Ópera Cultura.

Beyond Downtown

Mesa Arts Center

Arizona Opera

Heard Museum

Arizona Theatre Company

Children's Museum Tucson

A new opera for families and children based on Rudolfo Anaya’s beloved children’s book, The Farolitos of Christmas, is a heartwarming holiday opera about love, tradition, and the quiet power of invention.

Luz’s father is away at war. Her grandfather is too sick to build the luminarias. So Luz finds a new way to light the path on Christmas Eve, one that will become tradition.

The Farolitos of Christmas

National Hispanic Cultural Center

Zorro comes home when POP presents the Los Angeles premiere of Héctor Armienta’s acclaimed new opera, filled with romance, humor, and suspense. Set in the early 1800s in el pueblo de Los Angeles, still a colony of Spain, this thrilling new work follows the adventures of the Spanish nobleman who hides his true identity behind a black mask to become Zorro, the dashing defender of the poor and enslaved. With a lush score influenced by mariachi, flamenco, and corrido music, Zorro leaps into dashing sword fights and passionate romance while battling tyranny and corruption and defending California’s disenfranchised and indigenous peoples. Presented in English and Spanish with projected supertitles, fully staged with orchestra, costumes, sets, and operatic talent from across the country. Runtime is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, with one intermission.

Héctor Armienta

Events

Upcoming events

7 - 14 Dec, 2025

The Farolitos of Christmas · Opera Southwest

16 - 17 May, 2026

Zorro by Héctor Armienta · Pacific Opera Project

Past events

Jun 28, 2025

Cuentos · Opera Cultura

Apr 19 - May 4, 2025

Zorro · Opera San José

About

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