When Bizet’s Carmen debuted in Paris in 1875, it was a flop. Today, it is one of the three most widely produced operas in the world. Seagle Festival, which last staged Carmen more than 25 years ago, will present it again on July 23, 24, 25 and 26 at 7:30 pm. A July 25 matinee starts at 2 pm.
“Opera lovers are so excited to be able to see one of their favorites right here in the Adirondacks. And if you think you don’t like opera, this is the one to see,” said Darren Woods, the Seagle’s artistic director. “You will instantly recognize so many of its melodies, melodies you might not have known come from a 150-year-old French opera. “Habanera”, Escamillo’s “Toreador,” “Je dis” and “La fleur” are among the most treasured tunes of all time.”
According to Woods, the popularity of Carmen has led many companies and directors to stretch – often unsuccessfully – for originality and unexpected, not to say eccentric, interpretations.
“Seagle Festival believes that the Carmen that you grew up with, and loved, is the way it should be seen. It stands on its own. So ours is an extremely traditional telling of the story,” said Woods.
Woods added, however, that he insisted that the director be a woman. He persuaded Maryanne Telese, a leading soprano in the United States and Europe who went on to direct Madama Butterfly, Aïda, La Traviata, Le Nozze di Figaro, La Fille du Régiment, Lucia di Lammermoor and La bohème, to take on the task.
“I wanted a woman to tell the story of a strong woman,” said Woods. “Carmen fully embraces her power over men. When she wants to toss them aside, she does.”
Woods believes that the portrayal of a woman unbound by social and religious conventions is among the reasons why Carmen was a failure when it debuted in Paris 150 years ago. Today, that may be among the reasons for its popularity.
“These days, the more frequently we can show strong women, the better,” said Woods.
Carmen’s cast of emerging and professional singers will be supplemented by a chorus of ten local school children, members of the Seagle’s inaugural youth opera workshop, which was funded by Adirondack Community Foundation. Seagle Festival is located at 999 Charley Hill Road, Schroon Lake. For tickets and information, visit seaglefestival.org.
