Vermont Opera Theater Highlights of Carmen 2002


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			Carmen



*"all the feel of grand opera - in miniature... it was impossible not to get caught up in the love, passion and tragedy."* -Jim Lowe, Montpelier-Barre Times-Argus, 6/23/02
Highlights from CARMEN The heart of the opera! Friday, June 21 & Sunday, June 23, 2002 Barre Opera House, Barre VT This semi-staged chamber version of Carmen is the heart of Georges Bizet’s great work; it includes all the great songs and ensembles sung in the original French plus a chamber orchestra of winds, piano and percussion. Carmenis probably the world’s favorite opera, known best by the Habañera,Seguidilla andToreador Song. The libretto by Meilhac and Halevy, considered by many to be one of the best written opera stories, was based on Mérimée’s Spanish tale of the gypsy Carmen, who tempts soldier Don José to fall under her spell. But when Carmen discards José for Escamillo, jealousy and rage lead to a tragic end.
Music Director Anne Decker Carmen Don José Micaëla Escamillo/Morales Frasquita Mercedes Remendado Dancaïro Zuniga A Gypsy Dancer/Choreographer	and with	Stage Director Simon Chaussé Wendy Hoffman Farrell Craig Montgomery Shyla Nelson Simon Chaussé Ann Fitch Nora Zablow William Pelton James Blanchard Stuart Williams Ilana Zablow
Chamber Orchestra


	Music Director Anne Decker, who also conducts the Vermont Youth Orchestra Philharmonia, directed Vermont Opera Theater’s recent Amahl and the Night Visitors and the world premiere of A Fleeting Animal: An Opera from Judevine by Erik Nielsen and David Budbill. She just returned from Amato Opera in New York City where she rehearsed and conducted their fully-stagedCarmen.
Also back from Amato Opera’s Carmen is Stage Director and baritone Simon Chaussé; in addition to stage direction, he sings the roles of Escamillo and Morales. His recent local performances include concerts at Middlebury College and Johnson State College and Vermont Opera Theater’s Cabaret for Spring at Enosburg Falls. The title role of Carmen is played by mezzo Wendy Hoffman Farrell, who appeared in December as the Mother in Amahl; the native Vermonter began singing with the Essex Children’s Chorus, then studied at the Crane School and in Atlanta, where she performed with Atlanta Opera and Savoyards Light Opera.
	Tenor Craig Montgomery, who performs Don José, has appeared with Opera Columbus, Whitewater Opera and the Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Studio and has toured with the New York City Opera National Company in The Barber of Seville, La Traviata, and La Bohème.
Micaëla is played by soprano Shyla Nelson; she performs as soloist in the Vermont Mozart Festival Gilbert and Sullivan concerts, with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Oriana Singers and Vergennes Opera House Gala events.
	Also appearing are Ann Fitch and Nora Zablow as Carmen’s fellow gypsies and James Blanchard and William Pelton as the smugglers; all have performed in many Vermont Opera Theater shows, including Amahl and A Fleeting Animal. Stuart Williams sings the role of the soldier Zuniga; he last performed with the company in The Barber of Seville

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©2002-2003 Vermont Opera Theater

Vermont Opera Theater
P.O. Box 869
Montpelier, VT 05601-0869
USA