Drug War: The Opera, Premieres in Mexico

Mexico's drug war has reached its fingers all the way into the country's premier opera house: The first opera based on the conflict, Only the Truth, has premiered in Mexico City. The opera, based on a popular Mexican song, tells the story of a woman who smuggles marijuana north into the US and kills her lover after he betrays her. Many women have claimed to be the inspiration for the song.

The song dates from the '70s but the drug trafficking theme makes the opera highly relevant to today's Mexico, its music director tells the BBC."Out of the last 20 years, I would say, this is the one opera that is telling us a story that is not only on everyone's mind, but also in the headlines. It is how Mexico is perceived outside as well," he said. (More Mexico stories.)