Carmen Comes To Town
John Bell’s vibrant production of Bizet’s opera Carmen returns to the Joan Sutherland Theatre this summer with five singers making their Opera Australia debuts, bringing new life to an enduring, critically acclaimed favourite. Since debuting in 1875, Carmen has become an international sensation and is now one of the most popular, most often-performed operas in the world.
Italian mezzo-soprano Veronica Simeoni sings the signature role that she has performed all over the world; Italian tenor Roberto Aronica sings the role of Carmen’s desperate lover Don José and Polish bass-baritone Lukasz Golinski sings Escamillo. Young sopranos, Italian Claudia Pavone and Romanian-born British Simona Mihai, debut in the shared role of Micaëla.
The role of Carmen is shared with Sian Sharp and Carmen Topciu who returns after her critically acclaimed OA debut in 2019’s Anna Bolena. South Korean tenor Yonghoon Lee and Georgian tenor Otar Jorjikia will both reprise the shared role of Don José and Luke Gabbedy will share the role of Escamillo.
The ensemble cast also includes Sharon Zhai, Jane Ede, Agnes Sarkis, Anthony Mackey, Virgilio Marino, Nicholas Jones, Alexander Hargreaves and Sitiveni Talei.
Also in the creative team are revival director Constantine Costi and conductor Christian Badea making a welcome return to the Opera House stage along with OA’s conductor Tahu Matheson.
CREATIVES Conductor | Christian Badea, Tahu Matheson/ Director | John Bell/ Revival Director | Constantine Costi/ Set Designer | Michael Scott-Mitchell/ Costume Designer | Teresa Negroponte/ Lighting Designer | Trent Suidgeest/ Original Choreographer | Kelley Abbey/ Revival Choreographer | Amy Campbell/ Fight Director | Troy Honeysett
CAST
Carmen | Veronica Simeoni, Sian Sharp, Carmen Topciu/ Don Jose | Roberto Aronica, Yonghoon Lee, Otar Jorjikia/ Escamillo | Lukasz Golinski, Luke Gabbedy/ Micaela | Claudia Pavone, Simona Mihai/ Zuniga | Anthony Mackey/ Frasquita | Sharon Zhai, Jane Ede/Mercedes | Agnes Sarkis/ Dancairo | Alexander Hargreaves/ Remendado | Virgilio Marino, Nicholas Jones/ Morales | Sitiveni Talei
Selected dates from January 11 – March 26, 2020
Performed in French with English Surtitles
Running time: approximately 2 hours & 50 minutes, including one interval.
BOOKINGS 02 9318 8200 or opera.org.au
