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production photo of Carmen from 2006

Carmen 2006

June 30 - August 26, 2006

Opera’s foremost femme fatale…

The gypsy Carmen, whose irresistible allure draws men to their doom.

Music By
Georges Bizet
Libretto By
Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy

Synopsis

Act I

A square In Seville. Townspeople and soldiers relax in the sun, while Micaëla searches for Don José. Children parade, imitating the soldiers. As the noon bell rings, girls from the cigarette factory come out to smoke. Carmen airs her philosophy of life: love is a wild bird that cannot be tamed. She tosses José a flower as the work bell rings. Micaëla returns to give José news of his mother, who has sent him a kiss, which she delivers shyly. A disturbance is heard in the factory; Carmen is involved in a fight. The girls run out, arguing over who started it. Zuniga orders José to arrest Carmen. Her wrists bound, she is left alone with José, singing “to herself” about “a certain officer” who has taken her fancy. José lets her escape in exchange for a promised rendezvous and is arrested for his negligence.

Act II

Lillas Pastia’s tavern. Carmen regales the customers with a gypsy song. The matador Escamillo arrives, and is immediately attracted to Carmen. Le Dancaïre and Le Remendado try to convince Frasquita, Mercédès, and Carmen to accompany them on their next smuggling trip. The girls are game, except for Carmen, who says she is in love with José and is awaiting his release from prison. The others laugh, then depart as José is heard approaching. Carmen sings and dances for him, but when a distant bugle sounds, he says he must return to the barracks. Carmen mocks him, saying he doesn’t love her, and he replies that he has kept the flower she threw. Zuniga breaks in, looking for Carmen, and José loses his temper, attacking him. José, now an outlaw, has no choice but to join Carmen’s gypsy band.

Act III

The smugglers’ hideout. The smugglers congratulate themselves on their successful trade, but José is unhappy. Carmen occupies herself reading fortunes in the cards, but foresees only death. The gypsies leave José as lookout, and Micaëla enters, frightened but determined to find him. She hides when José fires a warning shot at Escamillo, who has come looking for Carmen. The two men start to fight but are separated by the gypsies. Escamillo invites them all to his next bullfight and leaves. Remendado discovers Micaëla, who begs José to return home to his ailing mother. Carmen dismisses him willingly, but José, convinced she now loves Escamillo, vows to return after he has seen his mother.

Act IV

Outside the bullring. The crowd gathers for the bullfight, hailing Escamillo. He and Carmen declare their love and he enters the ring. José begs Carmen to return to him, but she replies that everything is finished between them, as the crowd cheers the triumphant Escamillo. When Carmen tries to run past José into the arena, he stabs her.

Artists

Anne Sofie von Otter headshot

Anne Sofie von Otter

Mezzo-soprano

Carmen (June 30 - August 19)

Beth Clayton headshot

Beth Clayton

Mezzo-soprano

Carmen (August 23 & 26)

Jennifer Black headshot

Jennifer Black

Soprano

Micaëla

William Joyner headshot

William Joyner

Tenor

Don José

David Pittsinger headshot

David Pittsinger

Baritone

Escamillo (June 30 - July 14)

Laurent Naouri headshot

Laurent Naouri

Baritone

Escamillo (August 1 - 26)

David McFerrin headshot

David McFerrin

Baritone

Moralès

Andrew Funk headshot

Andrew Funk

Bass

Zuniga

Jon-Michael Ball

Tenor

Andrès

Sarah Hibbard headshot

Sarah Hibbard

Soprano

Frasquita

Deborah Domanski headshot

Deborah Domanski

Mezzo-soprano

Mercédès

Wade Thomas headshot

Wade Thomas

Baritone

Lillas Pastia

David J. Giuliano

Baritone

Le Dancaïre

Keith Jameson headshot

Keith Jameson

Tenor

Le Remendado

Kevin Murphy headshot

Kevin Murphy

Bass-baritone

Le Guide

Alan Gilbert headshot

Alan Gilbert

Conductor

Lars Rudolfsson headshot

Lars Rudolfsson

Director

Neil Patel headshot

Neil Patel

Scenic Designer

Kersti Vitali Rudolfsson headshot

Kersti Vitali Rudolfsson

Costume Designer

Duane Schuler headshot

Duane Schuler

Lighting Designer

María Benítez headshot

María Benítez

Choreographer/Dancer

Gregory Buchalter headshot

Gregory Buchalter

Chorus Master