09/01/12 – Carmen – 1:00pm

San Francisco Opera

Carmen by Georges Bizet
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy

Approximate Running Time: 3 hours, 20 minutes including two intermissions
In French

Thrilling but dangerous, the captivating, capricious Carmen is one of the most vivid characters in all of opera, and two mezzo-sopranos will portray the bold femme fatale on the War Memorial stage. Anita Rachvelishvili “brought an ample, earthy voice and sensual lyricism to her performance, winning a hearty ovation” (The New York Times). The classic Jean-Pierre Ponnelle production features tenor Thiago Arancam, fresh from his success in San Francisco Opera’s Cyrano de Bergerac (2010), as Don José, the man who unwisely falls under Carmen’s spell. Paulo Szot, a Tony Award winner for South Pacific adored for his “sultry bedroom eyes and…rich, commanding baritone” (The New York Times) promises to be a breathtaking bullfighter, with Adler Fellow soprano Sara Gartland as Micaëla.

Cast/Crew

CARMEN ANITA RACHVELISHVILI *
DON JOSÉ THIAGO ARANCAM
MICAËLA SARA GARTLAND
ESCAMILLO PAULO SZOT *
FRASQUITA SUSANNAH BILLER
MERCÉDÈS CYBELE GOUVERNEUR
LE DANCAÏRE TIMOTHY MIX
LE REMENDADO DANIEL MONTENEGRO
MORALÈS TREVOR SCHEUNEMANN
ZUNIGA WAYNE TIGGES
LILLAS PASTIA YUSEF LAMBERT *

CONDUCTOR NICOLA LUISOTTI
DIRECTOR JOSE MARIA CONDEMI
SET DESIGNER JEAN PIERRE PONNELLE
COSTUME DESIGNER WERNER JUERKE
CHORUS DIRECTOR IAN ROBERTSON

* SAN FRANCISCO OPERA DEBUT

Recorded Fall 2011, War Memorial Opera House.

Photos by Cory Weaver