FESTIVAL OPERA
presents
CARMEN by Georges Bizet
August 18, 2023 - 7:30 PM
August 20, 2023 -2:00 PM
Hofmann Theatre - Lesher Center for the Arts
Carmen has one creed: to live and love on her own terms.
She never thought it would come to this…
Famous for its use of Spanish and Cuban dances such as the Habañera and Seguidilla, Carmen has some of the most well-known music of the operatic repertoire. Inspired by the real, scandalous tales collected by Prosper Mérimée, the author of the original 1845 novella, Carmen is a dramatic tale of love, jealousy and tragedy. It tells the story of a hopeless soldier, Don José, who becomes obsessed with Carmen, a fiery woman with an appetite for love and somewhat shady business ventures. Abandoning his childhood sweetheart Micaëla and turning his back on his military career, the opera follows José in his pursuit of Carmen’s attention. Though, despite his efforts, stalking, and desperation, Don José’s quest for love doesn’t end how he’d hoped…
CAST & CREATIVE
Carmen: Taylor Raven
Don José: Dane Suarez
Micaëla: Hope Briggs
Escamillo: Young Kwang Yoo
Frasquita: Lila Khazoum
Mercédès: Lily Bogas
Remendado: Taylor Thompson
Moralés/Dancaïro: Andrew Fellows
Zuniga: Matthew Lovell
Conductor: Robert Mollicone
Director: Michael Mohammed
Chorus Master: Bruce Olstad
With the Festival Opera Orchestra & Chorus
and the Pacific Boychoir Academy
Director of Production: Frédéric O. Boulay
Scenic Design: Peter Crompton
Lighting Design: Matthew Antaky
Costumes: Joy Graham-Korst
Makeup: Kristen Campbell & Denise Gutierrez
Rehearsal Pianist: Chun Mei Wilson
Performed in French with English supertitles
Running time: approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.
