While Our Lady of Guadalupe is an important religious figure for Catholics in general (her feast day is December 12), “Guadalupe” speaks to people of all backgrounds by emphasizing the themes of finding peace through peaceful means, achieving reconciliation between cultures in conflict, and utilizing the power of belief and love to change the world. 

Here are a few reviews from the World Premier performance in May 2008. 

Critical acclaim has been positive. Richard Nilsen of the Arizona Republic wrote, “This opera-oratorio is a complete delight and surprisingly melodic, mixing classical and world music influences…The performance with the Native American flute virtuoso Nakai and exemplary singing from the soloists, is both real music and real drama…”

Music critic Dimitri Drobatchewsky attended the second premiere concert and reported, “The impact…was achieved through masterful execution of the score that blends the sounds of Native American-Aztec-lore with the more familiar melodic developments of Western music. And the artistry of the excellent vocal soloists, primarily mezzo-soprano Isola Jones and tenor Robert Breault, contributed mightily to the sometimes overwhelmingly inner tremors in hearing this extremely emotional music.”  

Pulitzer Prize winner Dominick Argento, one of America’s leading opera composers, described “Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Roses” as “A remarkable work…striking and graceful…the recorded performance itself is remarkable: it’s hard to believe it’s a live performance.”