Vancouver Opera is closing its successful 2023-2024 season with Georges Bizet’s most beloved opera, Carmen. The stage has been set for an abundance of passion, drama, world-class talent, and an unforgettable experience for opera enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Carmen is one of the most widely performed works in operatic history, and Vancouver audiences will have five opportunities to see this production.
The excitement surrounding Vancouver Opera’s 2023-2024 season finale is a testament to the enduring allure of Bizet’s opera and Vancouver Opera’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences.
“Bizet’s masterful score, multi-level sets that straddle the spectacular and the seedy, and the promise of captivating performances by some of the opera world’s most talented artists has already driven tremendous audience interest in this production,” said Tom Wright, General Director of Vancouver Opera. “Carmen is a must-see for both seasoned opera enthusiasts and those seeking an introduction to the mesmerizing world of classical music and storytelling. It’s an opera that has stood the test of time and continues to captivate audiences worldwide, so considering how audiences have responded in the past, we knew that offering an extended run of five performances was key to meeting the interest; in our 64-year history, we’ve never seen ticket demand like this!”
This lush, grand-scale production updates the original setting from late-1800s southern Spain to an unnamed, pan-Latin city in the mid-1950s, where mounting political tensions and romantic desires match the scorching midsummer temperatures. Eye-catching but aging billboards, bustling town squares and dive cafés, and costumes that range from proletariat denim to opulent bullfighting regalia give a vivid but distressed texture to this timeless tale of class division and teeming emotion.
Animated by an all-star cast and audacious stagecraft, the conflicting worlds and failed romance of the sensual, rebellious Carmen and the possessive military man Don José absolutely burst off the stage. From the stirring Toreador Song to the tauntingly seductive aria Habanera, Georges Bizet’s music transcends the hummable while cutting a compelling path through a story that intertwines the political and the personal.
Wright adds, ” The opera’s unwavering popularity lies not only in its captivating story but also in its ability to showcase the complexity of its characters. Carmen is more than an opera; it is an immersive journey into the tempestuous world of love and destiny that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.”
ABOUT VANCOUVER OPERA
Vancouver Opera creates extraordinary experiences that engage, inspire and entertain through voice, music and theatre. Vancouver Opera is the second-largest professional opera company in Canada and is regarded worldwide for its fine mainstage productions, country-leading education programs and innovative community programs.
Vancouver Opera continues to receive support from The Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada, the BC Arts Council and BC Provincial Government, the City of Vancouver Cultural Services, and Vancouver Civic Theatres. BMO, Mission Hill Family Estate, and the Alan and Gwendoline Pyatt Foundation are its season sponsors.
All photography by Emily Cooper and Jonathan Nicomedes.
Author Profile
- Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, and digital women's lifestyle magazine EcoLuxLifestyle.co. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.
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