Cuatro Corridos - A Chamber Opera (2013)
“... an unflinching look, from four cultural and musical points of view, at a sex trafficking scandal uncovered 13 years ago in the San Diego strawberry fields.
In the librettos by Jorge Volpi, each opera — by composers Hilda Paredes, Arlene Sierra, Lei Liang and Hebert Vázquez — tells the story of a different girl kidnapped in Mexico to serve as a prostitute for migrant farmworkers.
The scores are modern and meaningful.
Soprano Susan Narucki’s performances of the four women is shockingly true to the material...”
”
Commissioned and produced by Susan Narucki with support from the UC MEXUS, the National Endowment from the Arts, MAP Fund for the Performing Arts, NewMusicUSA and the University of California.
Libretto by Jorge Volpi
Music by Lei Liang, Hilda Paredes, Arlene Sierra and Hebert Vázquez
“ “... bracingly fresh, continuously fascinating and deeply disturbing; somehow, though, you emerge with a sense of optimism that, in the proper hands, ghastly human tragedies can result in great art.””
Cuatro Corridos Casa de la Cultura, Tijuana BC/MX Public Forum and Opera Performance
About the Opera
Cuatro Corridos is based on true events and tells the story of women trapped in a cycle of prostitution and slavery in and around the San Diego/Tijuana border region. Commissioned and produced by Grammy Award winning soprano Susan Narucki with libretto by internationally renowned Mexican novelist Jorge Volpi, the fully-staged production features original music by composers Hilda Paredes, Arlene Sierra, Lei Liang and Hebert Vázquez. Each composer gives voice to one of the four female characters by presenting one act in the hour-long drama.
Distinguished performers of new music, percussionist Ayano Kataoka and Steven Schick (world premiere), pianist Aleck Karis, and guitarist Pablo Gomez, joined Narucki in sharing the compelling stories of four women whose lives are scarred by human trafficking. The powerful production, conceived by Narucki and artist-activist Karen Guancione used iconic set elements and original graphic animation and projections.
Project highlights
Premiered in 2013, with support of MAP Fund, UC MEXUS and National Endowment for the Arts.
Performances at UC San Diego, Zipper Hall/Los Angeles, CENART/Mexico City, and in Tijuana, Guadalajara, Dallas, and throughout the United States.
Performances and discussions engendered support and partnerships between cultural, civic and academic institutions.
Multiple broadcasts in Mexico on CANAL 22 (Imaginante Productions)
Critically acclaimed recording on Bridge Records, 2017 Latin Grammy Nomination
Art and Activism
Discussions preceding or following performances of Cuatro Corridos brought artists, activists, representatives from NGOs, civic and national government, human rights attorneys, journalists, academics and the public into conversation about the reality of human trafficking.
