She’s in a beautiful quintet in Act 2 where they are trying to convince Carmen to go with them on their journey. “You’ll find her in the tavern, and also secretly working with the smugglers. “I play Frasquita, a friend of Carmen and Mercédès,” Ms. I am very grateful to them both for taking the time for a recent interview on their roles in the upcoming Carmen production – and on their time with Pittsburgh Opera. Both have come through trying times with the company with flying colors, and have given audiences displays of their superb vocal talents, versatility, dramatic ability and commanding stage presences. The production will also mark, at least for now, the final appearances with Pittsburgh Opera of several Resident Artists, two of the finest being soprano Véronique Filloux, and bass Jeremy Harr.

Another rescue – at last – from the COVID crisis, it’s easy to imagine that the production will be a popular draw, just as it’s always been for nearly 150 years. The production was in rehearsal in March 2020, then hoped for (with daily dwindling optimism) for the autumn lineup of the same year. Carmen, the perennial favorite Carmen, the Georges Bizet masterpiece that keeps French opera on the boards as few others in that genre do, will finally hit the Benedum stage next Saturday evening, March 26, for the usual run of four performances.

Carmen opera pittsburgh