Grand opera is returning to Chattanooga once again with Bizet’s Carmen. Slated for the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera’s 2018/19 season, the CSO will build on the momentum behind grand opera garnered by the success of Madame Butterfly during the 2016/17 season. The opera was last performed by the CSO in October, 1994.
"We had financial and programmatic success with bringing back grand opera last season with Madame Butterfly,” said CSO Executive Director, Samantha Teter. “The excitement from the community around opera was palpable, and we are excited to bring a fully staged grand opera back again in the 2018/19 season with this classic opera.”
Review for Carmen:
Carmen is set in southern Spain and centers on Carmen, a beautiful and fiery gypsy girl who seduces Don José, a straight-laced soldier in the army. The tale that unfolds is one of passion, obsession, and spurned love. When Carmen made its debut in 1875 it was met with harsh criticism and negative reviews - with a scandalous heroine and the portrayal of characters as real men and women with raw emotions, Carmen was far from the conventional operas of that day.
Performances will be Thursday, April 11, and Saturday, April 13, 2019 at the Tivoli Theatre. Patrons who purchase subscriptions for the 2018/19 season will have early access to tickets and can purchase tickets beginning in February, 2018, with single tickets for the opera going on sale to the public in August, 2018.