The current Burnaby Lyric Opera production of Carmen has great staging and costuming, strong voices and choreography.
The stage is filled with flirtatious and saucy girl cigarette factory workers, who come back just as saucy and lively as gypsy dancers, accompanied by either amorous young police officers or smuggling gypsies.
The small Shadbolt stage is made dramatic by set designer and director Richard Berg with fabric panels in strong diagonals, on which are projected colours or patterns that fit the action. He and the actors are also to be commended for the fiery group fight scenes and the knife fight on stage.
The excellent work by the large chorus fills the auditorium with Bizet’s music, performed and direct by Angus Kellet.
Carmen is sung and danced by mezzo-soprano Emma Parkinson with verve and temperament, and David Gibbons sings the role of Don Jose in his strong tenor voice.
Chloe Hurst, soprano, gives an affecting performance and delivers beautiful arias as Micaela. Livening up the stage with energy and good voices are sopranos Isabella Halladay and Shanté Van Horlick as two devil-may-care cigarette girls and/or gypsies.
Marc Pepe’s excellent baritone and strong stage presence served well as both an important officer and a smuggler. Scott Brooks, bass-baritone, was a dashing corporal, and Jason Cook, baritone, sang and performed well as Escamillo, the toreador who was very pleased with himself.
Another excellent production from Burnaby’s own opera company. Don’t miss their upcoming performances and Sunday concerts (April 30 and June 18) to support the group and enjoy good music and singing.
See www.burnabylyricopera.org for more on the company. For tickets to the final show of Carmen (Feb. 25), see tickets.shadboltcentre.com or call 604-205-3000.
