Thu, Sat & Tue, Feb. 19, 21 & 24 at 8 p.m.
Preview Talk at 7 p.m. with Alan Chapman
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Sung in French with English translations projected above the stage, “Carmen” is set in Seville, Spain in the early 19th century. The story follows soldier Don José, who falls for the tempting Gypsy, Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and, to prove his love for Carmen, leaves his military duties and joins Carmen and her band of smugglers. His world is turned upside down, however, by Carmen’s desire for the striking toreador Escamillo and a life that is free.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Dean Anthony, stage director
Pacific Chorale
— John Alexander, artistic director
— Robert Istad, assistant conductor and chorusmaster
Southern California Children’s Chorus
— Lori Loftus, founding director
Cast includes:
Carmen – Milena Kitić
Don José – Andrew Richards
Micaela – Elizabeth Caballero
Escamillo – Kostas Smoriginas
Mercedes – Sarah Larsen
Frasquita – Amanda Opuszynski
Zuniga – Andrew Gangestad
Morales/Le Dancaïre – Keith Harris
Le Remendado – Jonathan Blalock
Honorary Producers:
Paul and Marybelle Musco
Concert sponsors (Feb. 24):
Symphony 100
“Carmen” features a cast of world-class opera stars, including mezzo-soprano Milena Kitić as Carmen and Andrew
Richards as Don Jose, plus the Pacific Chorale and Southern California Children’s Chorus, in a semi-staged production that includes video elements, costumes and props.
“We’re so fortunate to have one of the consummate Carmens in our midst with Milena Kitić, who’s on faculty at Chapman University,” says St.Clair. “She’s sung this role in the major houses of the world. It’s her role, and it’s wonderful she’s here. And we’re surrounding her with a cast that has sung these roles numerous times in major houses.”
Kitić, a resident of Newport Beach, has performed the title role of “Carmen” throughout Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic. In addition to making her Metropolitan Opera debut as Carmen, local opera fans may recall her debut in 2003 with Opera Pacific as Herodias in “Salome,” and her performance in the company’s benefit concert with Plácido Domingo and conductor John De Main.
“Carmen is a free spirit, who values her freedom, and whatever she considers happiness, the most,” said Kitić of her character. “In the end of the fourth act she clearly says ‘I am born free and will die free, if to die is my destiny. I know you will kill me, so go ahead.’ Carmen is a gypsy, extremely superstitious, a woman with no real home. There are a good number of gypsies in Serbia, where I grew up, and I observed them most of my life. I think I learned to understand Carmen well.”
Kitić noted that she loves the score of “Carmen,” and that it’s truly phenomenal music.
“For me, as Carmen, it’s especially interesting to illustrate the transformation of the first two acts that are so seductive and playful, and the last two acts that are the opposite, dramatic and fatalistic. I also appreciate the way Bizet captured the flavor of Spain.”
Maestro St.Clair is no stranger to opera. “Symphonic Voices” has been drawing on his expertise as an opera conductor in Germany and elsewhere. He has conducted everything from “La Traviata” to Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” to great critical acclaim.
“Symphonic Voices” began with the highly successful debut in 2012 of Puccini’s “La Bohème,” followed by Puccini’s “Tosca” in 2013, Verdi’s “La Traviata” in 2014, and now in 2015 with Bizet’s “Carmen.”
Performances are Thursday, Feb. 19, Saturday, Feb. 21, and Tuesday Feb. 24, at 8 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall; a preview talk with Alan Chapman begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $25-$109. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit PacificSymphony.org.
