Event

Carmina Burana/Carmen

The Rochester Lyric Opera and The New York State Ballet collaborate to present the music, voices and original balletic expression of two of the most loved and performed of all operas: Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and Carmen by Georges Bizet.

A 17 piece orchestra will be conducted by Dr. Jared Chase, Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Bands and Coordinator of Instrumental Music at Nazareth College.

Vocal parts will be sung by Sue Cotroneo, Managing Director of the Rochester Lyric Opera, Katie Hannigan, Jessie Keim, Shaya Greathouse, Robb Zimmerman, and Mitchell Hutchings.

Carmina Burana also has children's parts and will be presented by the Lyric Opera's children's ensemble, called Lyric Voices, and directed by Vincent Salvadge.

Choreography for Carmina is by guest artist Robert Royce and for Carmen, is by New York State Ballet's own Sarah Rothrock Rickel.

The dancing will be performed by the twelve full time professionals of The New York State Ballet.

Carmina Burana is probably the most frequently performed choral work of the 21st century and refers to a collection of 13th century songs and poems from which the German composer Carl Orff chose 24 to compose his opera, first performed in 1937. It is written in 3 sections: "Springtime", "In the Tavern", and "In the Court of Love".

Carmen is one of the most popular operas in the classical repertoire and was composed by the Frenchman Georges Bizet of the romantic era and first performed in 1875. Its breaking of conventions scandalized audiences and it soon went onto international acclaim. Its "Habanera" and "Toreador Song" are among the best known arias in all opera. Set in southern Spain, it is the story of a naïve soldier Don Jose who is seduced by the wily and fiery gypsy Carmen but then jilted in favor of a flamboyant bullfighter Escamillo.