Opera South East presents Carmen

Opera South East returns to the stage of the White Rock Theatre with a full-scale production of Georges Bizet’s eternally popular Carmen, sung in English with orchestra and chorus. There will be two performances, on 21 and 22 April. Nick Terdre sets the scene, all photos by Peter Mould.

Carmen is not an opera for the faint-hearted. In this production passion turns to jealousy, say Opera South East, hope turns to despair, order turns to anarchy. Beneath the blazing sun a bull is slaughtered for sport, as outside the arena a woman lies dead, murdered by her jealous lover.

Desire and brutality dance hand in hand in this spectacular full-scale production. With its dramatic plot and thrilling score, Carmen is probably the most popular opera in the world.

Carmen, a woman ablaze with passion, surrounded by men possessed by obsession and jealousy, sets herself on a road to tragedy when she meets Don José, who is searching for a purpose in life.

Artistic director Eleanor Strutt brings a modern sensibility to this production which is set in 1820s Seville. “Our Carmen is a woman who transcends her circumstances – she is passionate about taking control of her life and her choices. Carmen’s music is unpredictable, challenging and captivating — so too is her character.

“When the cards predict her impending death, she recognises that her fate is bound to Don José’s, and yet she seeks to confront him outside the bullring. Carmen makes no attempt to escape; it is as if she is hurrying along her fate, choosing her moment to die, staying in command to the end.

“So, while Don José is unhinged and carrying a knife, does he actually murder her? Or does Carmen manipulate him to fulfil the cards’ prediction? And by doing so, does she also set up his death knowing that he will be executed for her murder? In the end, neither can survive without the other. This is a love that cannot be tamed.”

Kenneth Roberts will be conducting the Sussex Concert Orchestra and the Opera South East chorus together with the children’s choir HPO Songbirds.

Roberts bows out

It’s a poignant year for Kenneth Roberts — this will be his final piece for Opera South East at the White Rock Theatre before he retires as  conductor and musical director later this year. He commented: “It seems a particularly appropriate piece for my ‘swan-song’ as it was the first full-scale opera I conducted at the White Rock Theatre in 1983 – 40 years ago!”

Back in 1983 the theatre was known as White Rock Pavilion and the company as Hastings Opera. They also performed the opera in 1990, 2000 and 2014.

Eleanor Strutt is making her debut with Opera South East. She comes highly regarded, having directed an acclaimed and powerful production of Becoming Carmen for Prologue Opera at the Stables Theatre in Hastings last November.

Eleanor graduated with a first in Music from King’s College London, and a distinction for her MMus in Vocal Performance at Trinity Laban (the Conservatoire in Greenwich). She is currently front-of-house manager at the Royal Opera House.

Opera South East are delighted to welcome a number of new principal artists, including the exciting Irish-born mezzo-soprano, Deirdre Arratoon, taking on the role of Carmen. Her voice is described as “velvety, rich, and full of expression.” Don José is sung by tenor Matthew Scott Clark.

Eleanor Strutt will give a talk about the opera at 6pm on the Saturday.

 

Opera South East performs Carmen, by Georges Bizet Friday 21 and Saturday 22 April. White Rock Theatre, White Rock, Hastings TN34 1JX. Tickets £13-21, concessions £10-19, plus booking fee, under 16s free, available online, by phone (0343 310 0031) or in person at the box office.

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