I’ll be honest, opera can feel intimidating. You might picture a stuffy night of long songs in a language you don’t speak. Zorro is nothing like that. It’s swashbuckling, romantic, funny, and just plain fun, which makes it one of the best first operas I can think of.
Composer and librettist Héctor Armienta takes the legend we all know and sets it in early 19th century Los Angeles. A young man of noble blood has his eyes opened to the suffering of the oppressed, thanks in no small part to falling in love with Ana Maria. He gives up his birthright, puts on a black mask, and becomes Zorro. Now he’s defending the vulnerable from a maniacal mayor while trying to protect the woman he loves.
Will love and justice win against tyranny? You’ll have to go see.
The score is lush, tuneful, and Puccini-inspired, with Mexican musical influences woven through it. It’s sung in English and Spanish with supertitles in both, so you’re never lost. The production also has flashing blades, flamenco fire, and dynamic choreography that make it feel like a movie come to life on stage. It runs about two and a half hours and is rated PG, so it’s a great pick for a date night, a girls’ night, or a night out with older kids and teens.
The first half builds steadily, setting up the characters, the stakes, and the world. Then the action picks up, and the second half is where this show really grabbed me. The tension climbs, the pace quickens, and I found myself leaning forward in my seat. If you start to wonder whether you’re a “serious opera person” in the first act, stick with it. The payoff is worth it.
Both leads were exceptionally talented. César Delgado as Diego de la Vega/Zorro and Zulimar López-Hernández as Ana Maria Soza carried the story with voices that were powerful, expressive, and full of emotion. They are fantastic singers, and they are also fantastic actors. You believe the romance, you feel the danger, and you root for them from start to finish. That’s what makes opera magical: when voices that big tell a story that human, you can’t look away. The Utah Symphony and Utah Opera Chorus round it all out beautifully.
Get Your Tickets
This is a limited engagement, and there are only two performances left at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City (50 W 200 S):
- Friday, October 16 at 7:30 PM
- Sunday, October 18 at 2:00 PM
You can find all the details and ticket links on the Utah Opera . Utah Opera also offers discounts, including up to 50% off for students and anyone under 30, and savings for groups of 10 or more. Check their discount offers page to see what you qualify for.
Grab a friend, your sister, or your teenager, and make a night of it. Seeing something this big, bold, and beautiful live on stage is a memory in itself.
*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own*
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