Bless Me, Ultima: A Mexican-American Opera

Bless Me, Ultima is a new Mexican-American opera about the power of destiny. Created by composer-librettist Héctor Armienta, the opera is based on the acclaimed coming-of-age novel by Rudolfo Anaya, who is widely recognized as the godfather of Chicano literature. The story follows Antonio Marez and Ultima, a curandera -- or shaman -- who comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. Under her wise wing, Tony will probe the family ties that bind and rend him and will discover himself in the magical secrets of the pagan past, a mythic legacy as palpable as the Catholicism of Latin America. The production makes its West Coast premiere at the majestic Mexican Heritage Theater - School of Arts and Culture in San Jose.