Opera troupe brings ‘Carmen’ to MHS

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown’s MHS Performing Arts Center will be the location for a live, fully-staged, production of composer Bizet’s “Carmen” on Saturday, Nov. 17.

The Greater Middletown Concert Association’s second offering in its 2018-19 Concert Series is open to the public, as are all the individual performances it brings annually.

On Nov. 17, Connecticut Lyric Opera, a premier professional opera company in Connecticut that includes the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra accompanying the productions, will present the performance of “Carmen.”

The French opera is one of the most popular operas of all time. It was set in 19th century Spain. The beautiful but defiant gypsy Carmen captures the love of two men. One, Don Jose, is a handsome but unsophisticated soldier;d the other, Escamillo, is a dashing toreador scheduled for full fights in the city’s arena. The ensuing story is one of love, jealousy, and revenge.

A new take on this perennial operatic favorite will include updated staging that will bring further relevance to the story, while taking away none of the original drama and charm. The familiar music of “Carmen” with its beloved arias, choruses and orchestral interludes continues to please audiences around the world. Carmen’s passionate role makes this French opera especially unforgettable.

“Carmen” was first performed at the Opera Comique in Paris on March 3, 1875. There it shocked and scandalized its conservative French audience when it broke

Contributed photo The Greater Middletown Concert Association is presenting Bizet's opera, “Carmen” performed by Connecticut Lyric Opera, on Nov. 17.