Presented in association with Perth Festival, Bizet’s operatic masterpiece Carmen will take centre stage at the iconic WACA Ground in West Australian Opera’s new arena spectacular in February 2023.
“We’ve leapt at the chance to bring Carmen back to the people of Western Australia. Whether you’re a first-time opera goer, an opera or a cricket tragic, this production will thrill audiences in Perth’s most beloved sporting ground,” said Chris van Tuinen, West Australian Opera’s Artistic Director.
In a large scale outdoor arena spectacular, Bizet’s indisputable masterpiece Carmen is staged with all the trimmings, performed by over 150 singers and musicians. The historic cricket ground, the scene of many epic conflicts, plays host to the loves, betrayals, celebrations and tragedies of one of opera’s greatest stories.
Carmen is a bold, daring, working class woman, living life as a free spirit. She sets her sights on Escamillo, inciting jealousy in her powerful lover Don José. Hatching a plan to end this epic love triangle and gain her freedom, will the fiery Carmen outsmart Don José or will her betrayal lead to shocking consequences?
Ashlyn Tymms stars in the title role as Carmen alongside some of Australia’s finest singers bring this memorable story to life through arias such as the famous Habanera and the Toreador’s Song with tremendous local talent from the West Australian Opera Chorus, the WAO Children’s Chorus featuring the next generation of rising stars and the full might of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
“The support of our stakeholders is key to being able to present this large-scale event and, in particular, I would like to acknowledge the federal government support through the RISE initiative, Principal Partner Wesfarmers Arts, the Perth Festival, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the WACA Ground management and staff,” said Carolyn Chard, West Australian Opera’s Executive Director.
“This epic event will be livestreamed for patrons who may not be able to attend the performance in person. I’d like to thank everyone who previously purchased for the February 2022 which was interrupted by COVID19 and note that patrons who previously purchased for this show will be offered a pre-sale window,” said Ms Chard.
Carmen at the WACA is set to be one of the hottest tickets in town this summer and audiences can expect the searing passions of Spain in a large-scale fully staged outdoor production.
Conductor: Dane Lam | Director: Stuart Maunder | Featuring: Ashlyn Tymms, Paul O’Neill, José Carbó, Prudence Sanders, Emma Pettemerides, Brigitte Heuser, Lachlann Lawton, Jake Bigwood, Mark Alderson, Matt Reuben James Ward, West Australian Opera Chorus, West Australian Opera Children’s Chorus, West Australian Symphony Orchestra | Fight Coordinator: Nastassja Kruger | Video and Lighting Designer: Sean McKernan | Chorus Master: Christopher van Tuinen | Repetiteur: Tommaso Pollio | French Language Coach: Helen Brown | English Dialogue: Tabatha McFadyen
Carmen at the WACA will be presented 24 – 25 February 2023. Tickets go on-sale to the general public at 2.00pm on Monday 15 August. For more information and to join the waitlist, visit: www.waopera.asn.au for details.
Image: West Australian Opera presents Carmen at the WACA (supplied)