MEXICAN MUSICIAN MIXING MARIACHI WITH OPERA

MEXICAN MUSICIAN MIXING MARIACHI WITH OPERA

LOS ANGELES (Wireless Flash) -- What do you get when you mix Mexican music with Italian opera? Mariachi versions of operatic songs. A Los Angeles-based mariachi musician is blending operatic arias with mariachi instrumentation for an upcoming charity event. Jose Hernandez -- a sixth generation mariachi musician -- admits the spicy musical blend started as a joke, but once he heard the salsa-tinged sound he decided to create an entire show based on opera performed mariachi-style. If the March 18 show is a hit, Hernandez says he'll write an original mariachi opera.