Ópera Prima Rock

Queen’s classical and glamorous spirit inspired the creation of Opera Prima Rock. Since 1997, the 11-member group (guitars, drums, keyboards, lead singer and six choir singers) has played the most popular songs, rich in vocal arrangements, of the British band. It is fair to say that these are “off the record” arrangements that maintain the original keys.

The choir consists of three men and three women (tenor, baritone, bass, soprano, mezzo and contralto) to cover all vocal ranges in order to reproduce, as close as possible, Queen’s live arrangements  produced in the studio. One of the main reasons behind the creation of Opera Prima Rock was mere self-indulgence to perform live the song Bohemian Rhapsody, including its opera section.

Opera Prima Rock doesn’t want to become another Queen tribute band, but to recreate its music, respecting the notes and sound of studio versions. The show associates the music of Queen and Mozart thru an aria of The Magic Flute and some fragments of Réquiem. For Opera Prima Rock, Queen’s music represents the classical music of the twentieth century.

OPR’s aesthetic was inspired on a subjective interpretation of Queen’s famous record A Night at the Opera (1975), rescuing the band’s lavish spirit reflected on their stage costumes (courtesan clothes from late XVIII century). Opera Prima Rock has different costumes and styles used accordingly to concert’s length and requirements.

Since 1997 Opera Prima Rock has played in South America. In June 2002 it showcased a new show at Buenos Aires’s Margarita Xirgu Theater, and launched a Brazilian tour in cities like Canecao (Rio de Janeiro), and performing in front of almost a million people at the parade ending and celebration of the Brazilian national team’s fifth championship. 

In Argentina, the debut of Opera Prima Rock generated an overwhelming success. A simple Queen tribute turned into an unprecedented event. These presentations unleashed more concerts inside the country, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Brazil and Mexico.

In 2009, producer Diego Fainguersch and Federico Di Lorenzo began to plan a Mexico show. The scope of the technical infrastructure, the amount of artists and staff needed put the show on stage required rigorous casting sessions in order to integrate a company full of local talents. Artists selected to work with Opera Prima Rock came from a wide array of musical styles (jazz, classical, musical theater and popular music), played in many countries, recorded albums, international shows and musical comedies. Some of the cast have played leading roles in the most important musical theater productions, like Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweet Charity, among others.

The Mexican season was showcased in a non-stop tour across the country, at the Voilá Concert Hall and Banamex Theater, receiving an astonishing response from the audiences, with sell-out presentations.

These are the songs played by Opera Prima Rock: Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Save Me, Don’t Stop Ne Now, Love of My Life, Somebody to Love, Too Much Love Will Kill You, Play the Game, Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race, Under Pressure, The Show Must Go On, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, I Want to Break Free, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Another One Bites the Dust, Dear Friends and You Take My Breath Away.

Members
Federico Di Lorenzo Lead singer /producer
Marco Anthonio Vocals
Cecilia Cantu Vocals
Ricardo Diaz Vocals
Ana Cristina Arias Vocals
Jair Campos Vocals
Lorena Vignau Vocals
David Pineda Piano and keyboards
Diego Fainguersch Drums
Uriel Natenzon Bass
Mongoose (Eduardo Avila Costa) Guitar
Diego Fainguersch General producer

 

www.operaprimarock.com