Bizet classic comes to George Mason
by Samantha Schmieder
Special to the Gazette
The famous opera “Carmen” will finish its four-city trip around Virginia with a final performance in Fairfax at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Friday, April 11, and Sunday, April 13.
Presented by the Virginia Opera, “Carmen” is an opera comique by French composer Georges Bizet that premiered in Paris in 1875 to some unfortunate reviews. The opera was considered a bit too controversial at the time due to the rampant themes of dishonor, sex and murder that were blatant throughout its four acts.
The opera tells the story of Carmen, a feisty femme fatale who catches the attention of all the men whom she encounters. When a soldier, Don Jose, and a bullfighter, Escamillo, become involved with her, jealousy causes some problems within the love triangle.
Ryan Kuster plays the role of Excamillo, one of the best bullfighters in the world, and explains that his character shows up in Act Two and sees Carmen, who he immediately falls in love with.
“[Escamillo] is a man that has faced down death and has lived to tell the tale, so he just exudes confidence,” Kuster said. “He sees Carmen and tried to get with her and she says no, which I think is a rare thing for him.”
Corrine Winters plays the naïve Micaela, an orphan who was raised by Don Jose’s mother. Micaela gets dragged into the love triangle because Don Jose’s mother wants the two of them to get married.
“It’s a great opera and a great first opera,” Winters said. “It’s a very compelling story that people connect to very easily. It’s not really hard to hook people.”
Winters, a lyric soprano, explained that of the lead characters, she has the highest voice in the show. Kuster is a bass baritone. Mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson, in her main stage debut, plays the title role, while Dinyar Vania plays Done Jose.
“I didn’t know anything about opera growing up and I didn’t think I liked it,” Winters said, explaining that during her first voice lesson at age 17, her instructor told her she had an operatic voice. In college, Winters pursued other studies in addition to opera, because she was afraid to fully commit. But as she progressed, she fell in love with it.
Both Kuster and Winters explained that they love opera because it is an all-encompassing art form. Kuster calls it a culmination of the arts that is greater than himself, adding that he attempts to “become a channel for the music.”
“The thing that keeps me in this business is that opera is the most unique art form because it encompasses singing, acting, theater, fashion, orchestral music and more,” Winters said.
The opera will finish its run in Virginia at George Mason after performances in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond. The final performances of “Carmen” are at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday
While the opera is performed in its original language of French, English supertitles will be provided.