Carmen to bring together international cast at Joburg Theatre
Sempre Opera, in collaboration with Joburg Theatre, has announced its upcoming production of Carmen by George Bizet, which will be on at The Mandela Stage at the Joburg Theatre in June.
The opera will have a four-performance run on June 3, 5, 8 and 10.
With the tagline “Free she was born, and free she will die!¨ the opera is set in Seville, Spain and tells the tale of a gypsy who is determined to live life on her own terms – whatever her fate may be.
The passionate triangle of the world-wise gypsy woman, the jealous soldier willing to lose everything for her reciprocated love, and the toreador who will win her heart is one of the world’s most loved operas.
This masterpiece blends passion, seduction, jealousy, betrayal and even a little law-breaking, all set to one of the most famous scores ever composed.
The desperate young soldier Don José is led astray from his village life and love, the adoring village girl Micaëla, as he chases the irresistible and enchanting gypsy Carmen.
Her seduction and charms lead José into obsession and ruin when she leaves him for the swaggering bullfighter, Escamillo.
Directed by well-known baritone Danie Verster, Carmen will feature the Pretoria Symphony Orchestra and the Armonia Theatre Chorus, under the baton of Schalk van der Merwe.
Carmen features a local and international cast with seasoned and young and upcoming opera singers.
Mezzo-soprano Linette van der Merwe stars as the strong-willed and seductive gypsy who destroys the naïve, lovesick soldier.
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José is played by Stéfan Louw, a well-known South African tenor while baritone Christian Bester, who has been residing in the United States since 2006, will return to his home country for the role of the dashing bullfighter Escamillio. Sopranos Lauren Dasappa, from Cape Town, and Marina Botha-Spies will share the role of José’s sweetheart Micaëla.
The opera will be sung in French with English subtitles.
The shows on June 3 and 10 will start at 3pm and those on June 5 and 8 will commence at 7.30pm.
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