Skip to content
Author
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

With the advent of Opera in Williamsburg’s latest production, a revival of Georges Bizet’s 19th century “Carmen,” comes the opportunity to reflect on humanity’s enduring hopes and struggles. Performances run April 20 through April 24 at the Kimball Theatre.

“It’s great music, and the story is eternal,” said Yuri Kissin, who portrays Escamillo. “Love. Jealousy. People still fall for it.”

The production features 14 singers and as many instrumentalists, the largest orchestra since the company’s inception in 2012. It’s also the group’s first crack at “Carmen,” the tale of a gypsy factory worker who finds herself in the custody of a soldier named Don Jose. As she begins to seduce him, he wrestles with balancing the weight of his duties.

Eric Fennell fills the role of Don Jose for Opera in Williamsburg’s take on “Carmen.”

“I would say what is most compelling about ‘Carmen’ is the fact that it’s really a psychological drama,” said Stage Director Isabel Milenski. “Every moment is so heightened.”

She and her cast are devoting significant time to discussing the psychology behind each character and ensuring it’s clearly conveyed for the audience. It underscores the story’s constant conflict. Jose, for example, struggles internally and externally between his affection and his post, to the point where tensions with his superiors may very well end in death.

“It’s not a simple seduction,” Milenski said. “There’s no moment for any cast member to relax in this.”

It’s not all turmoil, as the piece also features witty characters and humorous situations.

“This piece is a really interesting straddling between comedy and tragedy,” Milenski said.

That dynamic range appeals to Lisa Chavez, the mezzo soprano in the titular role.

“There’s love and fighting, there’s pomp and circumstance, melded together seamlessly to keep your attention,” said Chavez, whose previous experience with “Carmen” includes stints with Opera San Jose and the New York City Opera.

Lisa Chavez portrays the titular role of “Carmen” at the Kimball Theatre beginning Friday.

The story is not meant to be a simple one, with each character’s arc almost begging for different interpretations from each member of the audience. Milenski said you’re meant to question what characters you want to succeed and fail as well as the role fate plays in the background. Whether the characters elicit love, hate or something in between, Chavez echoed the emphasis on leaving an impression.

“I hope ‘Carmen’ really makes people feel something,” she said.

Chavez added that although some people may not recognize the music of “Carmen” by name, many would recognize its melodies.

Milenski said she also hopes to the use Kimball Theatre venue to the opera’s advantage. It’s a smaller space than one might visit to experience “Carmen” in a bigger city, but Milenski sees the more intimate setting as an opportunity for heightened realism in which the actors’ subtle gestures and the characters’ subtle complexities garner more focus.

“It’s all in the glances,” she said. “You really feel them as people. You see the human being.”

Want to go?

“Carmen” runs 8 p.m. April 20, 2 p.m. April 22 and 7 p.m. April 24 at the Kimball Theatre. Tickets are $48, $43 for seniors, military, first responders, teachers and college staff or $15 for students, available at operainwilliamsburg.org.

Birkenmeyer can be reached by phone at 757-790-3029.