Friday 22 March 2013

HANDA OPERA ON SYDNEY HARBOUR: CARMEN

Carmen CarAdrienCarla Zampatti Carla Zampatti Handa OperaThe Hon Barry O'Farrell
Sophie LoweRafael BonachelaRafael BonachelaRafael BonachelaPeter MorriseyPeter Morrisey
Peter MorriseyKipan RothburyKipan RothburyKelley AbbeySophie LoweCarla Zampatti

Via Flickr:
Sydney’s cultural glitterati walked the red carpet and enjoyed the opening night of “Carmen”.
CARMEN

A sizzling new outdoor staging of Bizet's famous love story

“The inaugural Opera on the Harbour was a triumph. Whether you're going for the spectacle or the music, whether you're an opera buff or novice, you won't be disappointed.” The Australian

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour will take your breath away. From the moment you enter the magical harbour-edge setting, take your first sip of champagne and look across the astonishing floating stage at one of the world's most beautiful cities, you'll understand why images of the spectacular first production were beamed across the world and why critics and audiences were in raptures.

In 2013, Carmen takes the stage; dangerous, sexy and incandescent in a thrilling new production by Opera Australia.

Carmen tells the story of the naive soldier Don Josè who abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts the army when he falls under the alluring gypsy's spell. When he loses her love to the dashing toreador Escamillo, the scene is set for jealousy and vengeance. Bizet's seductive melodies and fiery Spanish rhythms conjure a world of desire, defiance and doom, in some of the world's best loved music, including the Habanera, Seguidilla, Flower Song and Toreador Song.

This awe-inspiring production by one of Australia's most daringly theatrical directors, Gale Edwards (The Boy From Oz, La Bohème), and award-winning designers Brian Thomson (The Rocky Horror Show, La Traviata on Sydney Harbour) and Julie Lynch (Travesties, La Bohème), features richly costumed soldiers, smugglers, cigarette girls, urchins, matadors and flamenco dancers swirling across the luminous set, lit by fireworks...to reveal more would ruin the surprise.

Come early and soak up the atmosphere as the whole precinct is transformed into a Spanish fiesta, with tapas bars and restaurants offering a wide range of pre-performance drinking and dining options.

Websites

Opera On Sydney Harbour
www.operaonsydneyharbour.com.au

Opera Australia - Handa Opera
www.opera-australia.org.au/whatson/events/detail?prodid=8...