Salsipuedes: a Tale of Love, War and Anchovies

Salsipuedes: a Tale of Love, War and Anchovies is an opera in three acts by Daniel Catán with a Spanish libretto by Eliseo Alberto, Francisco Hinojosa and the composer. The opera was commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera and premiered on October 29, 2004.

Written as a tragicomedy, the work takes place in 1943 on a fictitious island in the Caribbean during World War II. Beginning with a double love story, two newlywed couples are mistakenly taken aboard an island ship where they get tangled in a plot by the corrupt government to sell the Nazis their most valuable commodity–anchovies. The work contains serious overtones and concludes with the newlyweds nearly losing their lives.

The work has no violins or violas and is noted for blending opera with Caribbean instruments and rhythms.