A bullfighter, a soldier, his fiancée (itƵs complicated) and a tobacco factory worker will walk into the Clay Center Saturday night, all singing, as the West Virginia Symphony brings opera back to Charleston for the first time in over 15 years.
The Symphony will perform a concert version of ƵCarmenƵ written 150 years ago by French composer Georges Bizet. It contains some of the most recognizable tunes in the opera repertoire.
ƵEven if you donƵt know youƵve heard it, ƵCarmenƵ is in everybodyƵs ear from the time youƵre 3 years old because you exist in the world,Ƶ said Maurice Cohn, music director of the West Virginia Symphony.
Concert opera
Cohn, who is in his second year with the symphony, said that opera used to be performed regularly, and he thought it was time to try opera again. HeƵs not sure why the symphony stopped performing them, but he said he thinks one reason was financial concerns.
With set design, it can be expensive to put on a traditional opera. This version of ƵCarmenƵ will be a concert opera, where musicians from the symphony orchestra, the West Virginia Symphony Chorus and the Appalachian ChildrenƵs Chorus will be on stage behind the primary performers.
The concert opera focuses the audienceƵs attention on the music and saves some costs in set design. Instead, original art by Camilla Tassi will be displayed above the performers in lieu of set pieces. Stephanie Harvey will be directing the performers, and Derek Van Heel will provide unique lighting.
While the opera will be performed in its original French, the audience will see an English translation of the lyrics. Parts of the opera have been cut to fit it into a two-hour concert, Cohn said. A 1920s-themed radio narrator will fill the audience in on the missing parts.
ƵTurned up to 11Ƶ
The , where Carmen, a cigarette factory worker played by Grammy award-winning mezzo soprano Kelley OƵConnor, becomes involved with two men: the soldier Don José, played by Matthew Pearce, who is engaged to Micaëla, played by Kayla Harriott, and the bullfighter Escamillo, played by Nathaniel Sullivan.
Cohn said the opera was a dramatic story of love and betrayal.
(Spoiler alert: Carmen dies at the end.)
ƵEverything is turned up to 11. ThatƵs the thing about opera is that itƵs supposed to be a sort of heightened version of ourselves,Ƶ Cohn said.
Cohn said some people see Carmen as a temptress who leads men into sin. Others see her as a woman with agency who is deciding what she wants to do in her life.
ƵNo inhibitionsƵ
OƵConnor, a Napa, California-based mezzo-soprano, is playing Carmen for her third time. She said the characterƵs freedom is ƵliberatingƵ to play.
ƵItƵs a gentle reminder that we should all kind of embrace that side. Well, maybe not to the extent that she does because it doesnƵt turn out well for her,Ƶ OƵConnor said. ƵShe just has no inhibitions. Nowadays weƵre so careful, careful of our image and what we put out there, and itƵs hard to lose yourself.Ƶ
To prepare for the role, she sings the entire opera every day to increase her stamina.
ƵYouƵre like an athlete,Ƶ she said. ƵYou really want to be in top form for all of this.Ƶ
Nobody in real life is exactly like these characters, Cohn said thereƵs something in every character thatƵs true of everybody.
ƵWe all have a little bit of Carmen,Ƶ he said.
OƵConnor said the characters are like Ƶeveryday peopleƵ that average people can relate to.
ƵThis is a very visceral, real story, and you can see most of it happening in real life,Ƶ she said. ƵIt has fantastic drama, and you wonƵt be bored. I promise.Ƶ
