Opera in Williamsburg presents: Carmen by Georges Bizet April 20, 22, and 24, 2018 in partnership with The America-Israel Cultural foundation (AICF) Kimball Theatre, Williamsburg, Virginia 2 Opera in Williamsburg Naama Zahavi-Ely Founder and Artistic Director Jorge Parodi, Music Director Opera in Williamsburg is an innovative opera company, founded in 2012, that creates productions of fully-staged opera classics with world-class casts in an intimate setting in Williamsburg, Virginia. Funded by ticket sales, individual contributions, and grants, Opera in Williamsburg is committed to the highest artistic standards and maintains a relationship with the International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI), founded and run by Joan Dornemann and Paul Nadler. Opera in Williamsburg’s objectives are: Create effective, attractive, engaging and elegant mainstream opera productions with outstanding singers, committed acting and directing, and meticulous ensemble work. Provide opportunities for exceptional singers, musicians, and other artists to earn a living by their art. Attract new audiences to live, mainstream opera, with a special focus on younger audiences and school-age students Opera in Williamsburg, Inc is a non-profit tax-exempt organization with 501(c)3 letter of recognition from the IRS (EIN 47-5511655). We are very thankful indeed for the support of members of the community, which has allowed us to reach this point. Volunteers are welcome to join the group of loyal friends whose contributions of advice, assistance, hospitality and funding are essential to our work. If you are interested, please contact Naama Zahavi-Ely at [email protected] or 757-544-9461. Opera in Williamsburg is supported in part by generous grants of the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission (WAAC), the York County Arts Commission, the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). It works in partnership with the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF). 3 Don’t miss our next opera! Opera in Williamsburg presents: Verdi’s La Traviata September 12, 14, and 16, 2018 Conductor: Jorge Parodi Our heartfelt thanks to Opera in Williamsburg Advisory Board Susan Baime Linda Kligman-Try Jayne Barnard Paul Maramaldi Gulay Berryman Brenda Mitchell Dot Bryant Jorge Parodi Michael Bryant Oliver Portmann Carolyn Campbell Linda Collins Reilly Branch Fields Don Williams Clyde Haulman Naama Zahavi-Ely New board members are welcome! 4 Carmen by Georges Bizet Libretto: Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy after a novella by Prosper Mérimée Premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1875 April 20, 22, and 24, 2018 At the Kimball Theatre, Williamsburg, Virginia Conductor: Jorge Parodi Stage director: Isabel Milenski Carmen ................................................................ Lisa Chavez, Mezzo-Soprano Don José ..............................................................................Eric Fennell, Tenor Escamillo .................................................................. Yuri Kissin, Bass-Baritone Micaëla ............................................................................ Elinor Sohn, Soprano Zuniga/Moralès ............................................ Adelmo Guidarelli, Bass-Baritone Frasquita ............................................................. Megan Pachecano, Soprano Mercédès ........................................................... Elsa Queron, Mezzo-Soprano Le Dancaïre ..................................................................... Suchan Kim, Baritone Le Remendado ......................................................... Pavel Sulyandziga, Tenor Ensemble Soprano .................................. Cathy Thorpe, Deborah Soderholm Ensemble Mezzo-Soprano ....................................... Agueda Fernandez-Abad Ensemble Tenor ................................................. Eric Lamp, Richard Leibowitz Ensemble Bass ......................................................................... Colin Whiteman Dancer ........................................................................................... Jennifer Pyle Townswoman .......................................................................... Kelsey Helmick Assistant to the Music Director .................................................. Ugo Mahieux Costumes ....................................................................................................... Eric Lamp Lighting ................................................................................................... Jerry Pedroza Supertitles adaptation and projected backgrounds ....................... Naama Zahavi-Ely Production Manager .............................................................................. Jerry Pedroza Production Assistant/Deck Crew Chief ....................................... Mary Cate Mangum Crew ........................................................................ Brock Henderson, Rose Paddock Producer .......................................................................................... Naama Zahavi-Ely 5 CARMEN — SYNOPSIS Act 1 A square in Seville The setting is a square in Seville, with a cigarette factory in the background. A group of soldiers relax in the square, waiting for the changing of the guard and commenting on the passers-by. Micaëla appears, seeking Don José. The officer in charge tells her that José is not there yet, and invites her to wait with them. She declines, saying she will return later. José arrives and is teased lightly about his girl Micaëla. As the factory bell rings, the cigarette girls emerge and exchange banter with men in the crowd. Carmen enters and sings her provocative habanera on the untameable nature of love – it is like a rebel bird, or a Gypsy child who knows no laws. The men plead with her to choose a lover, and after some teasing she throws a flower to Don José, who thus far has been ignoring her. The women go back to the factory. Micaëla returns and gives José a letter and a kiss from his mother. He reads that his mother wants him to return home and marry Micaëla. Just as José declares that he is ready to heed his mother's wishes, the women come running from the factory. Zuniga, the officer of the guard, learns that Carmen and another woman exchanged insults, then blows. When challenged, Carmen answers with mocking defiance; Zuniga orders José to tie her hands while he prepares the prison warrant. Left alone with José, Carmen beguiles him with a seguidilla, in which she sings of a night of dancing and passion with her lover—whoever that may be—in Lillas Pastia's tavern. Confused yet mesmerised, José agrees to free her hands; as she is led away she pushes José to the ground and runs off laughing. José is arrested for dere- liction of duty. Act 2 Lillas Pastia's Inn Two months have passed. Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercédès are entertaining Zuniga and other army men in Pastia's inn. Carmen is delight- ed to learn of José's release from two months' detention. Outside, a chorus and procession announces the arrival of the toreador Escamillo. He is invited inside, and introduces himself with the "Toreador Song." He sets his sights on Carmen, who brushes him aside. Lillas Pastia hustles the crowds and the sol- diers away. When only Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès remain, the smugglers Dancaïre 6 and Remendado arrive and reveal their plans to dispose of contraband. Frasquita and Mercédès are eager to help them, but Carmen refuses, since she wishes to wait for José. After the smugglers leave, José arrives. Carmen treats him to a private exotic dance; her song is joined by a distant bugle call from the barracks. When José says he must return to duty, since the bugle calls him to the barracks, she mocks him. He shows her the flower that she threw to him in the square and sings of his love to her. Carmen demands that he leave with her for the mountains. José refuses to desert, but as he prepares to de- part, Zuniga enters looking for Carmen. He and José fight, and are separated by the returning smugglers, who restrain Zuniga. Having attacked a superior officer, José now has no choice but to join Carmen and the smugglers. Act 3 A wild spot in the mountains Carmen and José enter with the smugglers and their booty; Carmen has now become bored with José and tells him scornfully that he should go back to his mother. Frasquita and Mercédès amuse themselves by reading their fortunes from the cards; Carmen joins them and finds that the cards are foretelling her death, and José's. The women depart to distract the customs officers who are watching the locality. José is placed on guard duty. Micaëla enters with a guide, seeking José and determined to rescue him from Carmen. She hears a gunshot and hides in fear; it is José, who has fired at an intruder who proves to be Escamillo. José is happy to meet the bullfighter, but rages when Escamillo declares that he is in love with Carmen. The pair fight but are interrupted by the returning smugglers and girls. As Escamillo leaves he invites everyone to his next bullfight in Seville. Micaëla is discovered; at first, José is not willing to leave with her despite Carmen's mockery, but then he agrees to go when Micaëla tells him that his mother is dying. He departs, vowing he will return. Escamillo is heard singing in the distance. Act 4 Seville, outside an ancient amphitheatre Zuniga, Frasquita and Mercédès are among the crowd awaiting the arrival of the bullfighters. Escamillo enters with Carmen, and they express their mutual love. Escamillo goes into the