Ainadamar tells the story of the death of poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca from the point of view of actress Margarita Xirgu, who appeared in many of his plays. The libretto is by playwright David Henry Hwang, best known for M. Butterfly. It was first performed at Tanglewood in 2003.
Soprano Dawn Upshaw, who created the role of Margarita at Tanglewood, sings the role again at Santa Fe Opera. Miguel Harth-Bedoya, music director of the Fort Worth Symphony, conducts.
Golijov burst to prominence with the premiere of La pasi‹n seg‹n San Marcos (St. Mark Passion) in 2000. Ainadamar is his first opera. It will be seen at Lincoln Center in January 2006.