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The Captivating Tale of the Sexy Siren:
CARMEN
May 9-17, 2009
At the Detroit Opera House
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DETROIT, Michigan, April 14, 2009...Michigan Opera Theatre concludes its 2008-09 "Casualties of Love" season with a tale of opera's most infamous femme fatale, Carmen, in Georges Bizet's Carmen. The opera will be presented in six performances at the Detroit Opera House May 9-17, 2009. An opera in three acts, Carmen will be sung in French with English supertitle translations projected above the stage.
A tragic tale passion and jealousy, Carmen is set in the fiery streets of Seville, Spain in the post-World War II era. Carmen is a beautiful gypsy with a scorching temper whose beauty makes men irresistibly attracted to her. When an inexperienced soldier, Corporal Don José comes along, he immediately falls in love with Carmen and their relationship leads to a tumultuous and disastrous turn of events. After the rejection of his former love, mutiny against his superior and a turn to a life of crime, he ultimately, out of jealousy, murders Carmen.
Originally denounced by critics as a failure at its premiere in 1875, Bizet's Carmen is now one of the most beloved and performed operas in the repertory. The score includes some of the most famous opera music, including arias such as the Habañera and Torreador Song. To date, Carmen has been adapted in a number of film and theater versions, including Hammerstein's 1943 musical Carmen Jones, which featured Dorothy Dandridge, and MTV's 2001 film Carmen: A Hip Hopera starring Beyoncé Knowles.
The cast of Carmen includes a returning MOT favorite, mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich (9, 13, 16) to sing the title role of Carmen, who last appeared in both Falstaff and Carmen in 2001 at the Detroit Opera House. There will also be many MOT debuts in this production, including mezzo-soprano Kendall Gladen (10, 15, 17) who will make her MOT debut alternating in the lead role. Performing the role of Don José is young American tenor John Bellemer (9, 13, 16), alternating in the role with American tenor William Joyner (10, 15, 17). Both singers will make their respective MOT debuts.
The role of Spanish toreador Escamillo will be performed by Brazilian baritone Homero Velho, making his MOT debut. Returning to Michigan Opera Theatre for the first time since she made her company debut as Bess in the 2006 production of Porgy and Bess, Janinah Burnett sings the role of Micaela, the estranged fiancé of Don José, one of Carmen's victims.
Maestro Mark D. Flint, who made his MOT debut conducting Carmen in 1977, returns to conduct the Michigan Opera Theatre orchestra in his 28th production with the company. Stage director Ron Daniels, who directed the original production in 2001 in a co-production with Houston Grand Opera, will return to MOT to stage Carmen. Set in post-World War II Spain, costumes are designed by Outer Critics Circle Award winner Constance Hoffman with gorgeous and colorful sets by Riccardo Hernandez.
TICKETS for Michigan Opera Theatre's production of Carmen at the magnificent Detroit Opera House range from $29-$121. Tickets for the performances are available at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) and online at www.MichiganOpera.org. Tickets are also available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 or online at www.TicketMaster.com.
Georges Bizet's
Carmen
Saturday, May 9, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 10, 2009 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 15, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, 2009 2:30 p.m.
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