Consul Opera

Consul Opera

The Consul opera takes place in the waiting room of an unnamed consulate. Gian Carlo Menotti wrote this Pulitzer Prize winning piece in 1950. He had in mind a totalitarian state where people were seeking exit visas to leave their home country. World War II and the refugee situation was still fresh before the public so the theme clearly resonated with everyone.

The Consul opera is more than a musical depiction of a consul. In fact, he never appears. The people in the waiting room of the consulate can only deal with his secretary. He remains a powerful symbol of hope and refuge for the people who never get to see him.

The Florida Grand Opera is presenting the Consul opera May 9 through 16. In Consul Community Conversations, hosted by FGO and FIU (Florida International University), members of the immigrant community share personal stories about how they ended up in Miami, and the trial and tribulations they had to go through, not necessarily due to the actions of a consul. 

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