Featuring a 22 piece orchestra live on stage, a chorus of 60 local adults and children and professional opera singers including Ireland’s Ann Jennings and American soprano Diana Bryan-Mc Laughlin, Carmen is our biggest ever opera.
Following their large scale production of La Boheme at the Earagail Arts Festival, the North West Opera are presenting their next production here at An Grianán this week.
George Bizet’s Carmen is one of the most popular operas of all time and features some of the most memorable and loved classical music ever.
As with La Boheme, this production will feature professional opera singers in all the principal roles, ably backed by a supporting cast and chorus drawn from the local community.
In addition we are very fortunate to have the score performed live on stage by Egypt’s Cairo Opera Orchestra under the baton of the internationally acclaimed conductor Nader Abbassi. With 22 members, it is the biggest live orchestra that we’ve ever has accompany an opera performance and adding in the supporting cast and chorus of around 60 adults and children, this is quite simply the largest scale opera to date in An Grianán.
Sharing the stage with Irish soprano Ann Jennings is American soprano Diana Bryan-Mc Laughlin who will perform the role of Michaela.
Carmen
Carmen tells the story of young, naïve soldier Don Jose, who is bewitched by the beautiful and fiery gypsy Carmen.
In order to escape arrest, Carmen seduces Don Jose with the famous song Seguidilla. Don Jose is then arrested and on his release she again seduces him with an exotic gypsy dance but heartlessly mocks him when he tries to leave to return to his Barracks. Don Jose subsequently deserts the army to follow her into a life of crime, joining a band of smugglers.
Later, bored with Don Jose, the fiery, temptress abandons him, scornfully taunting him to run home to his mother. She turns her attention to the exotic bull fighter, Escamillio, who sings the hugely famous ‘Toreador’ song. But Jose’s desire for Carmen will eventually bring ruination them both.
Performance Dates
Fri 17 and Sat 18 October at 8pm
Tickets: €20 (children under 12 €10)
Book now!
