IN OPERA, LOVE ALWAYS WINS...OR NOT
Would Carmen have stayed with José if she hadn't met the bullfighter? Why were opera-goers outraged by The Marriage of Figaro? In Fidelio, why did Florestan lose his liberty? Interesting questions. Read on...
Our October 21/22 program, Operas of Seville, will highlight a dazzling array of five operas set in this magnificent city. Santa Cruz Symphony will perform orchestral selections from operatic works by Mozart, Rossini, Beethoven, Verdi, Bizet, and Waxman.
You'll hear Overtures from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) and Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), both based on a series of plays by Pierre Beaumarchais featuring the character of Figaro. Beethoven’s Leonore Overture no. 3 distills the essence of the work that would evolve into Fidelio, his only opera. Similarly, Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny) offers the opera's story in miniature form, containing hints and themes from the work as a whole. We know you'll recognize many of these pieces!
Arranged by Bizet’s friend Ernest Guiraud after his death, Carmen Suites 1 & 2 draw from Bizet’s Carmen, a convention-breaking opera that scandalized audiences in 1875 because of its overt sensuality. The orchestra will draw again from Carmen with Carmen Fantasie, composed by Franz Waxman in the 1940s and intended for some of the world’s greatest violinists.
Our new concertmaster Nancy Zhou will make her Santa Cruz Symphony debut as soloist with an exquisite virtuoso performance of Carmen Fantasie.
Oh, about those questions we asked. Attend our free pre-concert talks an hour before each performance to get all the gossip and intrigue presented in each of the five operas.
For the best seats, order your tickets now for Your Symphony’s stunning second concert of the season!
Open rehearsal of Operas of Seville:
Friday October 20 at 7:30 PM at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz
Evening performance of Operas of Seville:
Saturday October 21 at 7:30 PM at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz
Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Matinee performance of Operas of Seville:
Sunday October 22 at 2:00 PM at the Henry J. Mello Center in Watsonville
Pre-concert talk at 2:00 PM