The legendary story of the fierce Aztec ruler who briefly routed Spanish invaders five centuries ago took center stage this week at one of the modern Mexican capital's best-known theaters, but the opera's performers did not sing in any European language.
Instead, the actors belted out their songs in the Aztecs' own imperial tongue of Nahuatl, still spoken by millions of indigenous Mexicans, though helpful Spanish-language supertitles were flashed above the stage at Mexico City's ornate Fine Arts Palace.
"We're reclaiming many things," said Samuel Zyman, the composer of the opera titled "Cuitlahuatzin," which uses a more formal version of the king's name. "In this country and in many others, you have the idea that opera is European and only done in Italian or in French, and it shouldn't be that way," added Zyman.The opera featured actors in native costumes, face paint and feather headdresses. Actors tapped out beats on native drums and blew conch shells, as a modern orchestra at the back of the stage accompanied them.
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