t h e m i n n e s o t a o p e r a • 10
Conductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Keenan† Stage Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David Roth Choreographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Heidi Spesard-Noble Set and Costume Designer . . . . . .Marie-Jeanne Lecca Lighting Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marcus Dilliard Wigs and Makeup . . . . . . . .Tom Watson & Associates Resident Artist Assistant Conductor . . . . .Christopher Zemliauskas‡ Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . .Doug Scholz-Carlson Chorusmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bruce Stasyna Children’s Chorusmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janice Kimes Production Stage Manager . . . . . . . .Alexander Farino French Language Coach . . . . . . . . . . .Peter Robinson English Captions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Floyd Anderson Original Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keith Warner
Music by Georges Bizet Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy Based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée (1845) World premiere at the Opéra-Comique, Paris March 3, 1875 April 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, 2005 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Sung in French with English captions
The Cast Carmen, a gypsy girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rinat Shaham* Kirstin Chávez** Don José, a corporal in the dragoons . . . .Scott Piper* Jay Hunter Morris** Escamillo, a toreador . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matthew Arnold* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonathan Carle** Micaëla, a peasant girl . . . . . . . . . . .Karin Wolverton Mercédès, a friend of Carmen . . . . . . .Anna Jablonski Frasquita, a friend of Carmen . .Genevieve Christianson Zuniga, a captain of the dragoons . . . . . . .Seth Keeton El Dancaïre, a smuggler . . . . . . . . . . . .Raymond Ayers El Remendado, a smuggler . . . . . . .Theodore Chletsos Moralès, a corporal in the dragoons .Christopher Fast Lillas Pastia, an innkeeper . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bill Murray Andrès/Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Peter Robinson
Background Notes by David Sander
O
ne of the cruelest hands in the history of music was dealt to Georges Bizet,
who died without knowing his final opera’s everlasting appeal. The composer’s career had been tumultuous, without a clear theatrical success. The commission for Carmen in fact came on the heels of a newly failed work, Djamileh, which after its premiere on
Cigarette factory girls, dragoons, smugglers, dancers, townspeople
May 22, 1872, had only been able to scare up
Setting: Seville and its surroundings
a mere 10 performances before it dropped
* performs April 16, 19, 21, 23 ** performs April 17, 20, 22, 24 † conducts April 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 ‡ conducts April 24
Carmen is sponsored by American Express Minnesota Philanthropic Program Carmen by Georges Bizet. Critical edition by Fritz Oeser. By arrangement with Baerenreiter Music Corporation for Alkor-Edition, publisher and copyright owner. The appearances of Kirstin Chávez and Theodore Chletsos, national finalists, Anna Jablonski and Seth Keeton, regional finalists, and Matthew Arnold, district finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, are made possible through a Minnesota Opera Endowment Fund established for Artist Enhancement by Barbara White Bemis. Performances of Carmen are being taped for delayed broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio, ksjn 99.5 in the Twin Cities.
into obscurity, not to be revived until the 20 th century. The Minnesota Opera season is sponsored by U.S. Bank, Private Client Group. The appearances of the 2004–2005 season conductors are underwritten by SpencerStuart. The 2004–2005 Camerata Circle Dinners are sponsored by Rider Bennett. Opera Insights is sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Intermission reception sponsored by Lowry Hill Private Wealth Management. Rogers & Hollands is the O∑cial Jeweler of The Minnesota Opera.