Carmen, the eternal jezebel, will seduce Don Jose a dozen times this summer in Santa Fe.
Georges Bizet’s 1875 masterpiece about love and obsession has had more productions worldwide than any other opera in history. One critic has called “Carmen” bullet proof.
Is it any wonder Santa Fe Opera has made the siren’s song its centerpiece for the 2014 season? In order to accommodate her many fans, “Carmen” will tease her way through a whopping 12 performances between June 27 and Aug. 23.
In addition, Donizetti’s comic masterpiece “Don Pasquale” will go on stage nine times; Beethoven’s “Fidelio” seven; an unusual double bill, Mozart’s “The Impresario” and Stravinsky’s “Le Rossignol” will play five evenings; and “Dr. Sun Yat-sen,” a new opera sung in Mandarin – yes, Mandarin – will open July 26 and run only three additional nights. This will be its American premiere.
Composed by Huang Ruo, “Dr. Sun Yat-sen” demonstrates Santa Fe’s longstanding commitment to new works. The opera premiered in Hong Kong in 2011, with tenor Warren Mok singing the lead role. Mok will recreate Sun Yat-sen in Santa Fe.
Centering on the medical doctor who became a revolutionary leader and first provisional president of the Republic of China in 1912, “Dr. Sun Yat-sen” merges tumultuous Chinese history with Sun’s equally turbulent personal drama. The opera’s historical grounding may be as new to an American audience as singing in Mandarin.
Not to worry. Santa Fe provides subtitles at every seat if you want an English translation. And that goes for all the operas.
Composer Huang Ruo was born in China and educated at the Oberlin College Conservatory and Juilliard. His music blends Eastern, Western, folk and classical styles. Word has it his first opera bears a strong resemblance to standard operatic structures. We’ll soon see. Candace Chong, a leading Chinese playwright, has written the libretto, her first.
Here’s a rundown of the rest of the season:
“Fidelio:” Composed at the end of the Napoleonic era, Beethoven’s famous rescue opera has strong political overtones. It’s the story of an unjustly accused and imprisoned man and his faithful wife. Leonore disguises herself to penetrate a dungeon for political prisoners. Her goal is to free Florestan. Her mission has resonated throughout the ages as a commentary on tyranny and the quest for freedom. This will be Santa Fe’s first production of “Fidelio,” the composer’s only opera.
Another SFO first is combining Mozart’s “The Impresario” and Stravinsky’s “Le Rossignol” (The Nightingale) for an evening of comedy and lyricism. Although created centuries apart, the two works have been imaginatively linked with just a few plot adjustments.
Mozart’s comedy spoofs the music business of the late 18th century. Two divas fight over a desirable role, infuriating the organizer who has to do all the grunt work. In 230 years, show business hasn’t changed.
Performance traditions allow for free adaptation, so the coveted soprano role turns out to be the lead in Stravinsky’s lyrical little opera based on a fairy tale. A few smart Brits have come to Santa Fe and concocted a transition from 1786 to the 20th century, bringing the whole pastiche forward. The same cast will turn Mozart’s fluff into Stravinsky’s modern fable. It’s based on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved tale.
To add sweetness to the song, Santa Fe Opera recreates “Le Rossignol” in the 100th anniversary year of its debut in Paris.
Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” pits an aging lothario against two young lovers. The comedic baroque triangle will be updated through an Italian movie lens with hijinks from commedia del arte.
If you go
The Santa Fe Opera’s 2014 season will feature five new productions: “Carmen,” “Fidelio,” “Don Pasquale,” “Dr. Sun Yat-sen,” and a double bill of “Le Rossignol” and “The Impresario,” June 27 through Aug. 23. Santa Fe Opera is seven miles north of the city on Highway 85. Tickets range from $30 to $215. Call (800) 280-4654 or (505) 986-5900 or visit www.SantaFeOpera.org for more information.
