Pop + Opera = Pópera

Performing Nov. 15, 16 and 17 in San José’s National Theater: Compañía Lírica Pópera, the Spanish quartet promoters say “caused frenzy in the old continent” for their marriage of pop music and opera – i.e., pópera.

Dressed in old-time royal garb with wigs and heavy makeup, the young musicians belt out hits – opera-style – from the likes of Ricky Martin (“La Vida Loca”), Juanes (“A Dios le Pido”), Diego Torres (“Color Esperanza”) and Ana Belén (“Lía”).

If you like the idea of Spanish-language pop music backed by Costa Rica’s 40-member National Symphonic Orchestra, this is your chance.

Three of the group’s members (Beltran, Francesca, Ruth) are from Spain and one (Ricardo) is from Mexico.

All are trained classically as opera singers; they were selected to form Compañía Lírica Pópera by Spanish pop producer Miguel Angel Arenas, also known as Capi. Capi is the man behind Spanish pop sensation Alejandro Sanz, whose work is also interpreted by Pópera.

The San José concerts will feature songs from Pópera’s Universal Music Latino debut, “Gala Latina.” The group recorded the album with the SlovakRepublic’s Bratislava Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets cost ¢10,000-35,000 (about $20-70) and are available at the National Theater box office or online at www.teatronacional.go.cr, with 10% student/senior discounts and 50% off for limited-visibility seats. The concerts are set for 8 p.m.