Performance Dates
Friday, May 5, 2023 @ 8:00 PM – Discovery Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, May 6, 2023 @ 8:00 PM – Discovery Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Sunday, May 7, 2023 @ 4:00 PM – Discovery Theatre in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
In French with English Supertitles
For Tickets – CLICK HERE
Visit CenterTix.com or call 907-263-ARTS (907-263-2787)
Carmen “Greatest Hits” Video
Enjoy this video of highlights from Anchorage Opera’s production!
Carmen Photo Galleries
Carmen is a feast for the ears and the eyes! Stunning photos by AO Official Photographer, Kathleen Behnke, capture all the action beautifully!
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
About
“SEDUCTION, OBSESSION, BETRAYAL…what could possibly go wrong?”
No one can resist the fiery seductress, Carmen, who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. To live free and to die free is her credo. But be careful what you wish for when fate deals its final hand. Don José, obsessed with and possessed by Carmen, sacrifices everything to follow her into a life of crime, only to have her leave him for the dashing matador, Escamillo. But in a realm where desire and hot-blooded passion reign supreme, blind love can turn to blind rage and love triangles can be deadly! One of the most popular operas of all time, Bizet’s flamenco-infused music overflows with famous melodies including the ‘Habanera’ and Toreador Song.
Carmen is a great date night! If you’re new to opera, this one is for you! If you’re an opera-lover, you’ll be OBSESSED with Carmen! Starring internationally acclaimed artists and wonderful local talent, including a Children’s Chorus that will warm your hearts.
A Cat’s Eye View of Carmen in the making!
Our friends at Alaska’s News Source stopped by the opera to check in on our production of Carmen in the making and learned how our beloved mascot oversees it all! What a purrr-fect story by Eric Sowl.
Synopsis
Time: 19th Century; Place: Seville, Spain
ACT I
Soldiers and townspeople mill around in a square in Seville. A young peasant girl, Micaëla, asks the soldiers if they have seen her sweetheart, Don José. Telling her he’ll be back soon, they try to persuade her to stay with them, but she declines. The relief soldiers, including Don José, arrive. Factory bells ring, and a group of cigarette girls emerges from the factory where they work, including the popular beauty, Carmen. She focuses her attention on Don José, who pretends not to notice. Before leaving, she seductively tosses a flower at him. Alone, Don José recovers the flower and reflects on Carmen’s charms. Micaëla finds him and delivers both a letter and a kiss from his mother, who asks her son to marry Micaëla. Don José promises his love and fidelity to Micaëla, despite the temptations of Carmen. A ruckus erupts from the cigarette factory. Carmen has injured another woman, and the officer Zuniga commands Don José to jail Carmen. But Don José succumbs to her charms. He agrees to a rendezvous and lets Carmen escape.
ACT II
At Lillas Pastia’s inn, Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercedes consort with Zuniga and other soldiers. A group of revelers arrives, celebrating Escamillo, the illustrious matador. The crowd cheers as Escamillo boasts of his victories. He notices Carmen, but she remains indifferent. Zuniga, also smitten, tells Carmen that he plans to return to the inn later to visit her. When the crowd disperses, the smugglers Remendado and Dancairo try to enlist the aid of Carmen, Frasquita, and Mercedes. Mercedes and Frasquita agree to help them smuggle contraband, but Carmen, expecting Don José, wants to stay at the inn. Don José arrives, and Carmen dances for him. But distant bugles signal him to return to his quarters and he prepares to leave. Carmen mocks his obedience and encourages him to run away with her and lead the free life. Don José remains unconvinced until Zuniga returns to the inn seeking Carmen. In a jealous rage, Don José defies his officer’s orders to leave. As the smugglers pounce on Zuniga and escort him out of the inn, Don José has no choice but to remain.
ACT III
At the mountain hideout of the smugglers, Don José longs for his mother, who still believes him an honest man. Carmen taunts him and urges him to leave, but he refuses. Frasquita and Mercedes tell their fortunes with a deck of cards. When Carmen takes her turn, the cards foretell death for her and Don José. They set off to smuggle contraband, leaving Don José behind to guard the camp. Micaëla arrives at the mountain hideout searching for Don José and hides among the rocks. Escamillo approaches the camp looking for Carmen. He and Don José exchange words and begin to fight. But the smugglers return in time to stop Don José from wounding Escamillo, who invites them all to the bullfight in Seville. Her hiding place discovered, Micaëla begs Don José to return home to his mother, who is dying. Despite his violent jealousy, Don José leaves with Micaëla.
ACT IV
At the bullfight, a crowd gathers to watch the procession of toreadors. Escamillo and Carmen arrive together. Mercedes and Frasquita warn Carmen that Don José is lurking about. Carmen, unafraid, waits alone for Don José. He approaches and begs her to leave with him. She insists that their affair is over, that she does not love him anymore, and that she now loves Escamillo. As Don José’s demands become more desperate, Carmen throws at him the ring he once gave her. Don José murders Carmen, while the crowd inside the bullring cheers Escamillo.
The Cast
Production Team
Audrey Babcock – Carmen
Catalina Cuervo – Micaëla
Christabel Sosa – Frasquita
Michael Tallino – Dancaïre
Phil Cheasebro – Morales
Benjamin Werley – Don José
Alex Soare – Escamillo
Amanda Boger – Mercédès
Luke Honeck – Remendado
Kyle Gantz – Zuniga
David Braun – Lillas Pastia
Brian DeMaris – AO Principal Conductor
Cedar Cussins – Lighting Designer
Elle Janecek – Hair & Makeup Designer/Production Costume Supervisor
Brighton Coggins – Costume Shop Supervisor
Laura Alley – Stage Director
Peter Harrison – Set Designer
Helen Irene Muller – Stage Manager
Andrea Anderson – Assistant Stage Manager
Richard Gordon – Chorus Master
Katie Strock – Children’s Chorus Master
Free Pre-Opera Talks
Plan to join us one hour before each performance of Carmen to learn interesting background, and fascinating insights into this blockbuster favorite. We are proud to present our colleague in the arts, Zachary Milliman, as your Pre-Opera Talk Host for Carmen.
Friday, May 5 at 7:00 pm in the Discovery Theatre Parterre
Saturday, May 6 at 7:00 pm in the Discovery Theatre Parterre
Sunday, May 7 at 3:00 pm in the Discovery Theatre Parterre
Zachary Milliman is a PhD candidate in musicology at McGill University with a dissertation focusing on Hungarian opera and socialism. Zachary received his BM from Brigham Young University, his MM from the University of Utah both in vocal performance. As a tenor, Zachary sang leading roles in many operas both in the US and in Europe, including with Anchorage Opera, and was active on the oratorio as well as recital stage, performing all over Alaska. Prior to beginning his PhD, Zachary was Fulbright researcher at the Hungarian Musicological Institute. His research has been featured at annual meetings of the American Musicological Society, the Society for American Music, and many others, and has published with the journal of the International Allegiance for Women in Music. He currently resides with his husband, artist Matt Klinn in Anchorage, Alaska, and lectures at the University of Alaska.
Free Student Dress Rehearsal
Anchorage Opera would like to open the final dress rehearsal to K-12 students at no cost for our production of Carmen by Bizet on May 3, 2023 at 7:00 pm performed in French with projected Supertitles in English. Seating is limited. We will do our best to accommodate any K-12 student that would like to come, however some parties may receive fewer tickets than requested based on availability.
Please contact Kaylee Wagle at 907-279-2557 or email kwagle@anchorageopera.org to request your vouchers.
As this is a coveted event for many schools in the Anchorage area, please do not request more tickets than you will use. If you are promised a certain number of tickets and find you will not be able to use them all, please contact us as soon as possible so that people on the wait list can be notified and make arrangements to attend.
We hope to see a full house of K-12 Students there! BRAVO
Carmen Sponsors
Leventhal Lewis Kuhn Taylor Swan PC – Carmen Sponsor