Across time and borders, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna tells the heartwarming tale of family, migration and belonging. Trained in both classical and mariachi genres, cast members Octavio Moreno and Cecilia Duarte reprise their roles as Laurentino and Renata on the Ordway stage. We sat down with Moreno and Duarte to discuss the joys of originating their roles, the authenticity and relatability of their characters, and the many ways we define home. 

Describe your character in 3 words 

Octavio Moreno: Sacrifice, Linkage, and Fulcrum. 

Cecilia Duarte: Resilient, Strong, Loving. 

You originated the role of Laurentino/Renata. What are some of the joys and challenges of performing this role? 

Octavio Moreno: Originating a role is always a responsibility, but originating a role that tells your past, your people’s past, and our story, then it becomes more a duty. It has been a joy to tell the story of those who have suffered through the process of migration; leaving one’s country, land, family—all for the hope of a “better” life. And there is one thing that is both a joy and a challenge for me: playing an old man; a grandfather. Between the vocal ranges required and the physicality of moving from an older man to a younger one from scene to scene, it is a challenge that requires great precision and care.   

While this presents a challenge, it has also brought me great joy as I’ve used my own grandfathers as reference points for Laurentino’s character. Bringing their mannerisms and movements into my performance means that they may live forever!  

Cecilia Duarte: It’s been a joy, a privilege, and a challenge to have been the first person to bring Renata’s character to life. There is no other reference but me, and I got to set the bar, so it has been a great responsibility, as well as to be the starting point for others that have reprised the role. I have always been careful to portray this role with the utmost respect, knowing that Renata’s story is someone else’s story too– that there might be someone there in the audience with whom Renata’s story resonates deeply. It was important to keep her character real and honest. This is something I keep in mind even 13 years after the premiere. 

Musically, this role brings challenges as well as joys. Renata’s music is charged with lyricism and a lot of that bolero style from the 1930s and 1940s. There are also strong moments of rhythmic intensity, which requires me to blend my classical training with the stylistic colors of folk and bolero singing. Coming back to the role after five years is such a joy. 

What are the themes or messages of this opera that you think will resonate with our audiences?  

Octavio Moreno: I believe that both migration and family are two subjects that are universal. In most cases, the phenomenon of migration is about finding a better life for those who matter to us. That often means making a huge sacrifice to be able to provide for our loved ones and our family.  Often times, this sacrifice means leaving our family behind and there is a separation; a rupture in making that decision, even when it is in the hope of finding a better life for them. Which brings up these questions: Where is home? Is it a set of bricks on top of each other? A piece of land? Our neighborhood? Is it the bonding and the ties that we create with those we love? In this show, you will find the odyssey experienced by one person and a family because of migration and the metaphorical elasticity that home represents when these bonds travel from generation to generation to find their place. 

Cecilia Duarte: I think the subject of home is one that resonates with most audiences. Is home a place? A building? A person? This opera can make us think about the decisions we make in life, and what matters in the end for each one of us. 

What do you hope audiences take away from this production? 

Octavio Moreno: I hope that they can relate to the story and that they may see a familiar story, perhaps one from their own family, being told on stage. Ultimately, I hope they understand that this art form can be a tool to tell their own story—music can do this.  

Cecilia Duarte: I hope the audiences feel at home in the theater knowing that opera is for everyone—that opera is an artform that looks and sounds different across productions and stories. I hope they enjoy this story and that it shows the human side of an issue that we usually see on the news in the form of laws and bills. I also hope they come back and bring their friends and families with them and hug their loved ones when they go back home. 

Do you have plans for your time in Minnesota?  

Octavio Moreno: I had plans of going to the Mall of America and I’ve checked that off my list! I also would like to go to the Minneapolis Farmers Market…looking forward to it! I wanted to go to a Twins game. Sadly, they were eliminated by the Houston Astros. 

Cecilia Duarte: I want to get to know the city as much as I can! I am definitely enjoying the lower temperatures (coming from Texas!) and I enjoyed the Minneapolis Institute of Art, so far!