Opera Theater of Connecticut launches its fourth decade with Georges Bizet’s drama, Carmen. The production is fully-staged, sung in French with English supertitles for enhanced audience enjoyment, and accompanied by Opera Theater’s orchestra and chorus.

Opera Theater of Connecticut presents Carmen on Tuesday, Aug. 9, Thursday, Aug. 11, and Saturday, Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at the air-conditioned Andrews Memorial Theater, 54 East Main Street, Clinton.

The production will be set in period, making use of large colorful images, pictures, and videos to highlight the stage action and settings, assembled by Artistic Director Alan Mann and projected by special equipment provided by HB Live of North Haven.

Under the leadership of General Director Kate Ford, Opera Theater of Connecticut’s artistic team of Production Director Alan Mann and Music Director Kyle Swann will work with the ensembles for this presentation.

The cast features Kelly Hill as the tempting and provocative gypsy, Carmen, Daniel Juárez as Don José, the subject of her brief, yet fatal, passion that she shifts to Escamillo, the heroic matador, sung by Zhiguang Hong. Rochelle Bard makes her Opera Theater of Connecticut debut as Micaëla, José’s home-town sweetheart. Carmen’s cohorts and partners in crime include Jenna Siladie as Frasquita, Amy Maude Helfer as Mercédès, Lucas van Lierop as Le Remendado, and Dean Murphy as Le Dancaïre. Luke Scott returns to Opera Theater of Connecticut as Zuniga, Don José’s rival for Carmen’s attentions.

Ticketing information is available at operatheaterofct.org, or by contacting Opera Theater of Connecticut at 860-669-8999.

Carmen shocked and scandalized its first audiences with the wild and immoral behavior of Carmen, the chorus of cigarette-girls and their smoking, and the on-stage murder of Carmen. Carmen has since become one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the classical canon; the “Habanera” from Act 1 and the “Toreador Song” from Act 2 are among the best known of all operatic arias.

Boxed suppers, prepared by Chips’ Pub III and served on the theater lawn next to the scenic Indian River an hour before the show, are $15 and are reserved through Opera Theater of Connecticut.

Learn a bit more about the opera and its composer from Artistic Director Alan Mann by attending Opera Talk—an informal discussion about the show which starts an hour and 30 minutes before curtain time. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased on the day of performance. For more information, visit www.operatheaterofct.org.

This information is provided by Opera Theater of Connecticut.

Artistic Team and Cast:

General Director Kate A. Ford

Production Director Alan Mann

Music Director Kyle Swann

Carmen, a gypsy Kelly Hill

Don José, a corporal of dragoons Daniel Juárez

Escamillo, a matador Zhiguang Hong

Micaëla, a peasant girl Rochelle Bard

Zuniga, a lieutenant Luke Scott

Frasquita, a gypsy Jenna Siladie

Mercédès, a gypsy Amy Maude Helfer

Le Remendado, a smuggler Lucas van Lierop

Le Dancaïre, a smuggler Dean Murphy

Composer Georges Bizet

Librettists Henri Meilhac

and

Ludovic Halévy

based on the novel of the same title Prosper Mérimée

first performed March 3, 1875, at the Opéra-Comique, Paris