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Carmen 1975

July 2 - August 23, 1975

Doomed love…

…of fiery Carmen and her soldier, with the passions of the bullring…

Music By
Georges Bizet
Libretto By
Meilhac and Halévy
Based on the Novel By
Prosper Mérimée

Synopsis

Act I

A public square in Seville. Micaela has come from her village in Navarra to find her childhood friend, Jose, who is now a corporal in the army, stationed in Seville. As Jose arrives with his fellow soldiers he is told that a girl has been searching for him. He knows it must be Micaela. When the noonday bell sounds from the cigarette factory located on the square, the girls from the factory come out. People assemble especially for this daily occurrence to see their favorite cigarette girl, a gypsy named Carmen. Jose pays little attention to her and his attitude, a change, attracts her. She throws a flower at his feet and leaves. Alone, Jose picks up the flower and is about to throw it away when Micaela calls him. He pockets the flower and runs happily to greet the young girl. Meanwhile. Carmen and another girl have been fighting. Zuniga, a lieutenant, orders Carmen’s arrest, and leaves her in the care of Jose who is to take her to prison. She invites him to a meeting with her at the tavern of Lillas Pastia if he will permit her escape. He agrees and she runs off.

Artists

Gwendolyn Killebrew

Mezzo-soprano

Carmen (July 2 - 25)

Ann Howard

Mezzo-soprano

Carmen (August 2 - 21)

Jacque Trussel headshot

Jacque Trussel

Tenor

Don Jose

Samuel Ramey

Bass

Escamillo (July 2 - 25; August 7, 21, 23)

Brent Ellis

Brent Ellis

Baritone

Escamillo (August 2, 15)

Joanna Bruno

Soprano

Micaela

Peter Strummer

Peter Strummer

Bass-baritone

Morales

William Dansby

Bass

Zuniga

Sarah Beatty

Soprano

Frasquita

Faith Esham

Soprano

Mercédès

Bruce A. Hubbard

Baritone

El Dancairo

Douglas Perry

Tenor

El Remendado

Guy Foster

Dancer

John Crosby headshot

John Crosby

Conductor

Bliss Hebert

Director

Rouben Ter-Arutunian

Designer

Scenery

Suzanne Mess

Costume Designer

María Benítez headshot

María Benítez

Choreographer/Dancer

Georg Schreiber

Lighting Designer

Terry Lusk

Chorus Master