The Mexican opera "Atzimba" will return to the stage on April 10 in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, with a script by Alberto Michel and a reorchestration by Arturo Marquez, in a coproduction with the National Institute of the Beautiful Arts (INBA).

The lyrical drama by Ricardo Castro (1864-1907) will be re-staged in the opera programme of Bellas Artes during the 150 anniversary of the creator.

The musical direction will be in charge of Enrique Patron de Rueda and the stage direction will be by Antonio Salinas, while the choral conduction will be in charge of Ivan Lopez Reynoso and the scenery by Jesus Hernandez.

According to the INBA, the cast will be headed by soprano Violeta Davalos as Atzimba and tenor Jose Luis Duval as Spanish captain Jorge de Villadiego.

The cast is complemented by Ana Caridad Acosta as Sirunda and the baritones Armando Gama, Guillermo Ruiz and Carlos Sanchez as Hirepan, Huepac and king Tzimzitcha.

The story reflects on the Spanish conquest of the state of Michoacan in 1522 and presents the impossible love between a local Tarasco princess and a Spanish captain, sabotaged by Huepac, the priest, who is also in love with her.

This opera was first presented as a comedy in 1900, but a revised version by Ricardo Castro, without the comedy, was presented the very same year as a world premiere. Its first staging in Bellas Artes was in 1935 and then on 1952.

Because the original music sheet was lost, Marquez had to recreate it from the second act. In February, the opera was presented in Durango, homeland of Castro, headed by Duval and soprano Olivia Gorra.