Cuban Flair Set to Heat up the Sydney Opera House This Summer in John Bell’S Carmen

MEDIA RELEASE JANUARY, 2018 Bizet | Directed by John Bell | Conducted by Carlo Goldstein | Tahu Matheson

Cuban flair set to heat up the Sydney Opera House this summer in John Bell’s Carmen

After a sell-out season in 2016, John Bell’s vibrant production of Bizet’s Carmen, featuring gypsy girls and bull-fighting boys in eye-popping colours, returns to the Sydney Opera House this summer. Set against crumbling colonial architecture, this vivid production will bring obsessions and love to the stage through irresistible tunes, traditional Spanish dance and a touch of contemporary breakdancing. “Carmen is colourful, physical and entertaining, but it shouldn’t get too pretty,” said John Bell. “To succeed, it must have punch. Sex and sexual politics. Physicality and power.” Israeli born mezzo-soprano Rinat Shaham reprises the role of Carmen, a character she has been internationally recognised as one of today’s finest interpreters of the seductive femme fatale. Sharing the role is the stunning Sian Pendry, who made her mark as the fiery Carmen last year in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Tenor extraordinaires, Argentine Marcelo Puente and Georgian Otar Jorjikia, will both make their highly anticipated Opera Australia debuts, sharing the role of soldier Don Josè. Carmen also brings with it some of Australia’s biggest opera names – Michael Honeyman (Escamillo), Stacey Alleaume and Natalie Aroyan (Micaëla), Richard Anderson and Adrian Tamburini (Zuniga) are but a few of the exceptional singers to appear on stage. Conducted by Carlo Goldstein and Tahu Matheson, Bizet buffs and first-time operagoers alike will be captivated by Carmen’s incredible score, including the iconic “Habanera” and “Toreador Song”. Over one hundred and forty years after its premiere, Carmen remains one of the world’s favourite operas, continuing to inspire contemporary music, fashion and film. “Carmen is a must see opera, even if you’ve never set foot in an opera house,” said Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini. “If you’re new to opera, this production is the perfect first show - the work itself is, of course brilliant, the production values are second-to-none and with the stellar Australian and international cast we have assembled, it’s an opera that is set to impress.”

The combination of Havana-inspired sets by Michael Scott-Mitchell, energetic choreography by Kelley Abbey and punchy costumes by Teresa Negroponte is set to spice up the Sydney Opera House and transport audiences to 1950s Cuba.

Creatives Performance information Conductor Carlo Goldstein (until Feb 27)|Tahu Evenings at 7.30pm Matheson (from Mar 2) February 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27 Director John Bell March 2, 15, 17, 23 Revival Director Roger Press Saturday Matinee at 1pm Set Designer Michael Scott-Mitchell March 10 Costume Designer Teresa Negroponte Lighting Designer Trent Suidgeest Running time Choreographer Kelley Abbey Approximately 3 hours including one Assistant to Choreographer Amy Campbell interval. Fight Choreographer Nigel Poulton Performed in French with English surtitles.

Cast Bookings Carmen Rinat Shaham (until Feb 27) Tickets from $46 (fees may apply) Sian Pendry (from Mar 2) Group and concession prices available for most performances. Don José Marcelo Puente (until Feb 27) Student Rush available for most Otar Jorjikia (from Mar 2) performances: $50 (fees may apply) Escamillo Michael Honeyman Opera Australia Box Office Micaëla Stacey Alleaume (until Feb 15) (02) 9318 8200 Natalie Aroyan (from Feb 17) www.opera.org.au Zuniga Richard Anderson (until Feb 27) Adrian Tamburini ( from Mar 2) Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera Dancairo Luke Gabbedy House Remendado Simon Kim (until Feb 27) Nicholas Jones (from Mar 2) Media enquiries Moralès Alexander Hargreaves Brock Goodhill | Senior Publicist Frasquita Jane Ede 02 9318 8332 | 0400 285 799 [email protected] Mercédès Agnes Sarkis

With the Opera Australia Orchestra and Opera Australia Chorus