She’s also worked with the chorus and the other principals, “especially Escamillo, on body language and movement,” to create a more authentic visual performance.

Mercedes explained she has assembled a troupe of six local Flamenco dancers who will be incorporated into the opera, and she has been working with their Carmen, Marie José Montiel, whose role calls for specific dances. Together, they’ve imagined the opera in a way that emphasizes dance, echoing some of the great “golden age” productions of “Carmen” (even George Balanchine once choreographed a production at the Metropolitan Opera). Buchman is married to Rosa Mercedes, a choreographer, who has joined him on the project. ”Īnother distinctive feature of the Atlanta production is the importance of the choreography. “During the overture and entr’actes, he is in a prison cell onstage, thinking back to how he came to be in this situation and what is about to happen … his execution. “We see the story looking back through José’s eyes,” Buchman said. The result, Buchman said, is a staging that “takes the point of view of the original short story by Mérimée.” (Bizet’s librettists based the opera on Prosper Mérimée’s novella.)

Instead, the company purchased period sets from Florida Grand Opera, Buchman has added his own ideas, and is using costumes rented from a Canadian company. As is often the case, budgetary restrictions prevented Buchman from developing an entire production from scratch. Directing the production will be Jeffrey Marc Buchman, who had a distinguished career as a baritone before moving into stage direction.

Carmen opera atlanta ga