WHAT'S UP! FROM PAGE 13 OPERA


in love at first sight, and the rest of the opera’s plot involves machina- tions to prevent Baron Ochs from marrying the girl. With its grand harmonic sweep, Strauss’ lush mu- sic matches the humor, sensuality, and poignancy of the plot. Seasoned opera lovers relish the idea of seeing “Turandot” and “Rosenkavalier” again. Admittedly, the more frequently performed “Faust” and “Carmen” will be the crowd pleasers as well. “Faust” concerns the elderly Faust’s (American tenor Stephen Costello) deal with the devil, Mephistoph- eles (American bass-baritone Greer Grimsley) to exchange his soul for the restoration of his lusty youth. Faust woos and despoils the virginal Marguerite (American soprano Ailyn Peréz) putting her immortal soul in peril (she goes mad and kills their baby) until she is saved by a miracle. Faust and the Devil get their due. In real life Costello and Peréz are a married couple who relish the opportunity to be on the same stage portraying lovers again (they performed the title roles in “Romeo and Juliet” here last season). A great favorite wherever he goes, the graceful Grimsley is, quite simply, a hunk. See him on the cover of the June 2010 “Opera News.” All are fine ac- tors, so the opera should play like gangbusters.


Does anyone not know the plot of “Carmen”? It’s been made into numerous films and pounded into other guises. The hit tunes are everywhere. Carmen, a gypsy temptress (Georgian mezzo sopra- no Nino Surgurladze in her SDO debut) seduces a country bumpkin soldier, Don Jose (sensational Italian tenor Salavatore Licitra in his SDO debut), who goes AWOL after releasing her when she is arrested for murder. When he gets out of prison, Jose joins Carmen and a band of cutthroat smugglers. Jose is beloved of hometown girl Micaela (SDO debutante Talise Trevigne, who created the role of Pip in “Moby-Dick”), who comes to the gypsies’ encampment to plead with him to come home. So intense and obsessive is his passion that he cannot leave Carmen even though she treats him like dirt. Meanwhile, Carmen falls in love with a toreador named Escamillo


(American baritone Wayne Tigges) and gives Don Jose the heave-ho. Jose follows her to the bull ring and stabs her to death. Hit tunes include the famous “Toreador Song” and Carmen’s “Habanera.” Bizet’s “fate” theme dominates the opera. One can’t help humming it in the car bound for home. To further discover the grand- ness of opera and decide whether it’s for you, SDO offers a new series of “Community Conversa- tions,” which address musical, dra- matic, religious and psychological matters. For instance, on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego Symphony music director Jahja Ling and SDO education director Nicolas Reveles explore the authentic Chinese melodies in Puccini’s “Turandot.” These events are scheduled at convenient community locations, and will feature noted experts in various fields, but best of all are free and open to the public. For more information or to reserve a seat, visit sdopera.com/communi-


tyconversations. Tickets for individual per-


formances at the Civic Theatre, located at 3rd and B Street in downtown San Diego, start at $35. Three- or four-opera subscription packages range upwards from $108, depending upon perfor- mance night and location. Senior discounts are available for the full Tuesday evening series. For more information, visit sdopera.com or call 533-7000. Music may be sampled on the website as well as individual singers’ voices. u


THE 2011 I NTERNATIONAL SEASON “Turandot” Giacomo Puccini January 29, February 1, 4 and 6 (mat), 2011


“Der Rosenkavalier” Richard Strauss April 3 (mat), 6, 9 and 12, 2011 “Faust” Charles Gounod


April 23, 26, 29 and May 1 (mat), 2011


“Carmen” Georges Bizet May 14, 17, 20 and 22 (mat), 2011


San Diego Uptown News | January 7–20, 2011


15


Rejuvenating Waters


San Diego Opera presents Gounod’s “Faust” in April. (Photo by Dan Rest/ Lyric Opera of Chicago)


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