Houston Grand Opera
Presents
Bizet's
CARMEN
WHERE:
The Miller Outdoor Theatre
100 Concert Drive in Hermann Park
WHEN:
Friday, June 5, 1998 at 8:30 pm
Saturday, June 6, 1998 at 8:30pm
ARTISTS
Carmen.....................................Suzanna Guzman, mezzo-soprano, United States
Don Jose......................................................Jeffrey Dowd, tenor, United States
Escamillo..........................................................Luis Ledesma, baritone, Mexico
Micaela..................................................Kimberly Jones, soprano United States
Mercedes............................................Joyce DiDonato, soprano, United States
Frasquita...............................................Jennifer Aylmer, soprano, United States
Dancairo.................................................Daniel Belcher, baritone, United States
Zuniga..................................................Christopher Feigum, bass, United States
Morales.....................................................Scott Hendricks, base, United States
Remendado................................................. Chad Shelton, tenor, United States
Conductor.............................................Christopher Larkin
Director........................................................Michele Assaf
Set and Costume Designer...............................Kenneth Foy
Lighting Designer...........................................Ken Billington
Video Director..............................................Marion Kessel
Sound Designer..........................................Herbert Lagoski
Chorus Master...............................................Richard Bado
Orchestra...............................................Houston Grand Opera Orchestra
Houston Grand Opera returns to Miller Outdoor Theatre
with two performances of Bizet's Carmen on HGO's
groundbreaking Multi-Media Modular Stage.
Houston Grand Opera presents an innovative production of Bizet's Carmen on the groundbreaking
Multi-media Modular Stage (MMS) on Friday, June 5th and Saturday June 6th, 1998 - 8:30am at
The Miller Outdoor Theatre. HGO returns to the public outdoor amphitheater after a five year
absence as part of its Community Connections Initiative, a progressive, multi-pronged initiative
aimed at moving HGO closer to the center of community life.
HGO Associate Conductor Christopher Larkin conducts the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra in
this innovative production directed and choreographed Michele Assaf, who makes her HGO
debut. Assaf, well-known for choreographing and directing in musical theater, film, television and
rock concerts, is venturing into opera for the first time with this production.
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Suzanna Guzman stars in new production
Directed and Choreographed by Michele Assaf
Suzanna Guzman, who thrilled HGO audiences in last season's critically acclaimed world premiere
of Florencia en el Amazonas, is Carmen - the passionate, fiery gypsy who pays the ultimate price
for pursuing her desires. Carmen marks the HGO debut of American tenor Jeffrey Dowd as Don
Jose and Mexican baritone Luis Ledesma as Escamillo. American Soprano Kimberly Jones,
Papagena in last season's The Magic Flute, rounds out the cast as Micaela.
The Multi-media Modular Stage is a multi-tiered metal stage designed by Tony Award winning
lightning designer Ken Billington and acclaimed set designer Ken Foy. The MMS replaces
theatrical set pieces and backdrops with three screens upstage and two screens side-stage that
project live-action and graphic images symbolizing on-stage actions or emotions. Four video
cameras, including one on-stage portable mini-cam, will supply the live images. Lighting will be
supplied by a self-contained, computer programmable lighting system with instruments that control
focus, color and direction via remote control. Sound will be enhanced by a state-of-the art sound
system that includes headset microphones for singers, area mikes for the chorus, and microphones
for the individual players in the orchestra.
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Miller Outdoor Theatre offers ample lawn seating and admission is always free of charge. Tickets
for covered, reserved seats are available on the day of the performance between 11:30 am and
1:00pm at the Miller Theatre Box Office. Any tickets remaining are given out one hour before
curtain. Please only four tickets per person maximum. For additional information, call
713-284-8350.
Language: Carmen will be sung in English with English Surtitles.