carmen - georges bizet

MAY 14, 16 AND 18, 2008

IOA is celebrating 30 years of producing Grand Opera in Bozeman.  Our artistic director is assembling a stellar cast for next May’s production of Carmen. The title role will be played by Audrey Babcock. We are thrilled to welcome back two singers from previous years. Tenor Scott Piper will be Don Jose. He sang the part of Des Grieux in our 2006 production of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. Jennifer Welch-Babidge will sing Micaela. In 2004 she appeared on the Willson stage as Lucia in Lucia de Lammermoor. Carlos Archuleta will sing Escamillo.

Carmen is a French opera by French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Meilhac and Halevy, based on the story of the same title by Prosper Merimee. The opera was premiered at the Opera Comique of Paris on March 3, 1875. For a year after its premiere, it was considered a failure, denounced by critics as being "immoral".

The plot is set in Seville, Spain, circa 1830, and revolves around the eponymous Carmen, a beautiful gypsy with a fiery temper. Free with her love, she woos corporal Done Jose, an inexperienced soldier. Their relationship leads to his rejection of his former love, mutiny against his superior, leading a life of crime, and ultimately, out of jealousy, the murder of his beloved Carmen. Enjoying what turns out to be a transient happiness with Carmen, he flies into a rage when she transfers her affections to bullfighter Escamillo.

	Audrey Babcock, a Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist two years in a row, Audrey has sung Carmen for the Florida Grand Opera and covered the role for the New York City Opera. Other roles include Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, and Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana. She has appeared with Seattle Opera, Santa Fe Opera, New York City Opera. Upcoming engagements include Lyric Opera of San Diego
	Scott Piper has played Don Jose at New York City Opera. He has also sung with Houston Grand Opera,  Vancouver Opera, New People’s Theater of Moscow (Russia), Minnesota Opera, and Opera Pacific. He appears as Alfredo in the new DVD of Franco Zeffirelli’s production of La Traviata conducted by Placido Domingo.
	Carlos Archuleta makes his first appearance with IOA singing Escamillo. His recent engagements include the Washington National Opera, Minnesota Opera and San Antonio Opera.  He will sing the role of Escamillo with New York City Opera in October 2008, and at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK, in February, 2009.
	Jennifer Welch-Babidge will sing the role of Micaela. Frequently appearing on the Metropolitan Opera stage, her roles with the company include Marzelline in Fidelio, Chloe in Queen of Spades, Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and Freia in Das Rheingold. She has also appeared at Carnegie Hall with the Metropolitan Opera Chamber Ensemble and James Levine. In recent seasons, her acclaimed performances encompass the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor at New York City Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Greensboro Opera Company. Ms. Babidge has sung with San Francisco Opera and Houston Grand Opera.
	Jeffrey Buchman, a baritone, will sing the role of Zuniga. Mr. Buchman won the 5th International Luciano Pavarotti Voice Competition and made his debut in Pavarotti Plus at Lincoln Center at the invitation of the world renowned tenor. He has performed with Utah Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Greater Miami Opera, Boston Lyric and Hong Kong Opera.   Rosa Mercedes, a dancer & choreographer from Barcelona, Spain, has enjoyed an extensive and critically acclaimed career which has seen her work featured by the Metropolitan Opera, Opera di Roma, Michigan Opera Theatre, Cincinnati Opera, Baltimore Opera, Washington Summer Opera, Florentine Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Dallas Opera and Florida Grand Opera in productions of SAMSON ET DALILA, AIDA, CARMEN, LA TRAVIATA, LA GIOCONDA, DIE FLEDERMAUS, SALOME, AIDA, BALLO IN MASCHERA, DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, CORONAZIONE DI POPPEA, ROMEO ET JULIETTE, DON GIOVANNI, TURANDOT, THE MERRY WIDOW and LA VIDA BREVE.
	Steven Daigle, associate professor of opera and dramatic director of Eastman Opera Theatre, has served as part of the artistic staff for more than 200 lyric theater productions. Daigle served on the faculty at Kent State University and as assistant director and acting director of the Opera Theater program at the Oberlin Conservatory. In the summer of 1998 he served on the faculty of the Oberlin in Italy program in Urbania, Italy. In 1999 he was appointed artistic director of Ohio Light Opera Company.
	Julian Dawson, Conductor, is Musical Director of the Intermountain Opera Association. Il Trovatore will be his eighth production with IOA having conducted Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, The Magic Flute, Carmen, Die Fledermaus, La Bohème and The Ballad of Baby Doe. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Dawson was associate conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Opera. While still in the United Kingdom he was also coach and associate conductor at Glyndebourn Opera in England. He moved to the US in 1975 and was Director of Orchestras and Opera at Illinois State University for 26 years and opera conductor for nine seasons at the Brevard Music Center as well as being principal coach of the Chicago Opera Theatre. He recently spent five summers as conductor for the Oberlin in Italy opera program in Urbania, Italy and is currently an adjunct member of the music faculty at Northwestern University. He has also enjoyed a career as a pianist and has appeared frequently in recitals and concerts in Europe and the U.S.