Legendary poets never die old and happy—they go out tragically, seemingly a prerequisite to literary glory. Sylvia Plath put her head in an oven; a freaking dune buggy killed Frank O’Hara; Dylan Thomas died from alcohol poisoning at the White Horse Tavern. It’s a tough occupation, but the life of a poet lends itself beautifully to the most dramatic and, well, tragic form of art: opera. This weekend, the Long Beach Opera presents Ainadamar at the Terrace Theater. It’s the story of Federico Garcia Lorca, the Spanish playwright and poet who wrote, “With a spoon he scooped out the eyes of crocodiles.” Experience Lorca’s beautiful life and death told through the visions of Margarita Xirgu, an actress Lorca used in his most famous roles. All dramatic momentum builds to the cathartic moment surrounding Lorca’s death during the Spanish Civil War and reflects upon the art he left behind. Simply not to be missed.
Sat., May 26, 8 p.m., 2012
