{"id":101836,"date":"2024-02-21T12:20:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T17:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=101836"},"modified":"2024-02-21T12:20:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T17:20:07","slug":"preview-southern-ontario-lyric-opera-presents-bizets-carmen-first-time-march-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/02\/21\/preview-southern-ontario-lyric-opera-presents-bizets-carmen-first-time-march-2\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Southern Ontario Lyric Opera Presents Bizet\u2019s Carmen For The First Time March 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"R:
R: Sabatino Vacca; L: top row – Sara Papini; Parker Clements; Andrew Derynck; Middle row – Daniela Agostino; Adam Sperry; Simona Genga; Lower row – Luke Noftall; Alessia Vitali; Ben Wallace (All images courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Southern Ontario Lyric Opera will be presenting a fully staged version of Bizet\u2019s Carmen on March 2, a first for the company. Bizet\u2019s Carmen is one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the classical repertoire, to the point where the Habanera and Toreador Song have permeated popular culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very much looking forward to presenting Bizet’s Carmen on March 2,\u201d says Founder and Artistic Director Sabatino Vacca<\/strong>. \u201cWe have a very exciting cast of Canadian singers including Simona Genga in the title role. French lyricism together with Spanish rhythms are at the heart of Bizet\u2019s masterpiece. Is it any wonder why it has become one of the most beloved operas of all time!\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds, \u201cBizet’s Carmen is a good audience draw especially for a March date. It makes for a good contrast with Madama Butterfly which we performed earlier this season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 2015, SOLO made its debut with an evening of opera favourites. It\u2019s returned to the stage for La Traviata, Tosca, La Boh\u00e8me, Leoncavallo\u2019s Pagliacci and Puccini\u2019s Gianni Schicchi, among other productions.<\/p>\n

Carmen<\/h3>\n

Georges Bizet composed the music to a libretto written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Hal\u00e9vy, based on the novella Carmen by popular French author Prosper M\u00e9rim\u00e9e.<\/p>\n

At its premiere in 1875, the Paris audience was scandalized by the way that Bizet had broken with the operatic conventions of the past. Sadly, Bizet passed away after only the 33rd performance of Carmen, and never knew that it would go on to become so popular.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery unfortunate that Bizet died not long after its premiere convinced it was a failure,\u201d says Vacca \u201cand never able to enjoy the immense popularity it was to enjoy worldwide. There are great moments of sparkle as in the quintet which bubbles along like a freshly opened bottle of expensive champagne; only a French composer could have penned such a dazzling gem!\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a tragic story of love, jealousy and betrayal. The soldier Don Jos\u00e9 becomes infatuated with the passionate gypsy Carmen, abandoning his childhood sweetheart and even his military duties. In the end, though, he loses his love to another, causing him to erupt in a jealous rage.<\/p>\n

The opera depicted social issues along with its dark love story, and the life of street people, among other elements which shocked French audiences in the late 19th century.<\/p>\n

The Cast<\/h3>\n

The production will be directed by Gregory Finney<\/strong>, and conducted by Vacca. Casting is obviously crucial. Simona Genga<\/strong> takes the lead role of Carmen, with Andrew Derynck<\/strong> as Don Jos\u00e9. Both are making their debuts with SOLO.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways looking for solid top notes, a good blend of voices with leads, some weight and \u201cmetal\u201d in the voice as well. Very happy to have Simona Genga joining us for the first time, very warm voice with an even range top to bottom, rich tone, and great acting skill. She will bring a lot to the role,\u201d Sabatino notes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndrew Derynck is a very young promising tenor with secure top notes with power when you need it as in some of the ensembles, and tenderness as in the duet with Mica\u00ebla.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of the other cast members are favourites of SOLO audiences, including sopranos Sara Papini<\/strong>, Daniela Agostino<\/strong>, and tenor Adam Sperry<\/strong>. Alessia Vitali<\/strong>, Parker Clements<\/strong> (Escamillo), and Luke Noftall<\/strong> (Zuniga) are alum from the University of Toronto Opera School, while Ben Wallace is a current student.<\/p>\n

\u201cPairing up the gypsies Frasquita (Daniela Agostino) and Merc\u00e9d\u00e8s (Alessia Vitali) is very important as is pairing up the smugglers Le Danca\u00efre (Ben Wallace) and Le Remendado (Adam Sperry). Sara Papini our Mica\u00ebla is also gifted with a very warm rich voice and ease with top notes. Sara was our Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n