Vancouver Opera (VO) closed out its successful 2023-2024 season with an opulent production of Georges Bizet’s most beloved opera, Carmen.
From the familiar opening strains of the overture, conducted by Leslie Dala and curtain rising on the beautifully atmospheric set its easy to see why Bizet’s Carmen has become the fasted selling production in Vancouver Opera‘s history. With two of it’s five performances already sold out, the anticipation of the famed opera had the opening-night audience buzzing with excitement.
Director Rachel Peake’s production shifts the setting from its original 1800’s Spanish location to an unknown 1950’s Latin locale, allowing Set and Costume Designer Gary McCann to create a stunning and lush, tropical town, that feels like a colonial outpost on the brink of throwing off the shackles of its military overlords. Filled with townsfolk in muted military uniforms, rough-hewn smugglers, bright swing skirts and peasant tops, amongst them is the crimson wearing Carmen, performed by mezzo-soprano Sarah Mesko making her Vancouver Opera debut, highlighted by the famed aria Habanera. The rebellious bird has set her eyes on a dashing military corporal Don Jose, played by Alok Kumar, who is instantly smitten by flirtatious Carmen. In contrast, the innocent and devoted Micaela (powerfully played by Jonelle Sills) to whom Don Jose is betrothed, cares for his mother in their distant home town.
With Don Jose away doing his military service away he’s easily led astray by Carmen, who toys with his emotions; allowing him to serve jail time, leave service and join her band of smugglers, in his futile attempts to hold her attention. However, the vixen’s fickle nature leads her to keep Don Jose at arms length, lest a more suitable suitor comes along. Enter, Nathan Keoughan as Escamillo the famed Toreador whose charisma and status turns many a head, most notably Carmen’s, and gives us the memorable Toreador Song.
Under the repression of the military, the town has become a hot bed for contraband with Carmen’s comrades played by Luka Kawabata, and alumni of VOs Young Artists Program Jeremy Scinocca, Heidi Duncan, Simran Claire. Danlie Rae Acebuque playing another corporal is also a member of the Young Artists Program. Alain Coulombe as the Lieutenant and Joey Lesperance as the Inn Keeper round out the solid featured performers.
Vancouver Opera’s Carmen is a must see, as the cast of 60+ covering the grand sets, the company of voices provide powerful support to the fabulous featured performers filling the Queen Elizabeth Theatre with the familiar movements of Bizet’s timeless masterpiece. Limited tickets remain for the three final performances; Thursday May 2nd and Saturday May 4th at 7:30pm and Sunday May 5th at 2pm. Visit vancouveropera.ca for details and ticket information.