verismo opera company.
Mar. 6th, 2011 10:02 pmThe Mira Theater in Vallejo before a production of Carmen Sunday afternoon.
Here is Carman singing the Habanera.
The audience filled the theater about half way, and totaled 50 people or so. $15.00 tickets. The orchestra was ten people, and the cast was about 16. The singers were mostly pretty good, especially Micaƫla (very good), Carmen, and Escamillo, the Toreador (who wore sunglasses at his entrance in Act 2). They cut the Overture, also the orchestral intro to Act 4 which was disappointing I guess, though how it would have sounded with only an orchestra of ten... maybe it was a blessing of omission. It is certainly a tribute to Bizet how enjoyable and moving his work is even with this barely adequate production. Suspending just a little more disbelief than usual with opera, I enjoyed the show very much. I imagine traveling productions like this occurred all over the old west, delighting the citizens and enriching their lives. Opera is the best.

Here is Carman singing the Habanera.
The audience filled the theater about half way, and totaled 50 people or so. $15.00 tickets. The orchestra was ten people, and the cast was about 16. The singers were mostly pretty good, especially Micaƫla (very good), Carmen, and Escamillo, the Toreador (who wore sunglasses at his entrance in Act 2). They cut the Overture, also the orchestral intro to Act 4 which was disappointing I guess, though how it would have sounded with only an orchestra of ten... maybe it was a blessing of omission. It is certainly a tribute to Bizet how enjoyable and moving his work is even with this barely adequate production. Suspending just a little more disbelief than usual with opera, I enjoyed the show very much. I imagine traveling productions like this occurred all over the old west, delighting the citizens and enriching their lives. Opera is the best.