DUBAI, UAE — Dubai Opera announced recently that the Armenian National Academic Theatre Opera and Orchestra is set to bring two opera favorites, “Carmen” and “The Magic Flute” to the Dubai Opera stage in September.
The first of the productions, “Carmen,” directed by Naire Stepanyan, was performed over three consecutive nights on September 6, 7 and 8.
“Carmen” tells the tragic tale of Don José, who falls hopelessly in love with femme fatale, Carmen. José loses Carmen’s love to the matador, Escamillo, only to end in José killing her in a jealous rage. The Opening night Star studded cast included Karine Babadjanian as Carmen and Hovanes Ayvazyan as Don Jose, Meri Movsessyan as Michaela and Gevork Hagopyan as the strapping Toreodor, Escamillio, along with other great soloists and the renowned chorus of the Armenian National Opera House.
Written by French composer Georges Bizet, “Carmen” premiered in Paris in 1875 after suffering negative reviews. Disconsolately, Bizet died during the preliminary performances, never to know that “Carmen” would rightly become one of the most loved and popular operas of all time.
Audiences at Dubai Opera can expect spectacular costumes designed by Cristine Avetisian and awe-inspiring set designs by Avetis Barseghian to augment the truly brilliant performance of “Carmen,” which will be performed in French with English surtitles. “Carmen” will be conducted by American conductor Christopher Ocasek.
The second production, “The Magic Flute,” by one of the most celebrated composers of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, will debut the following week, also for three consecutive nights on September 13, 14 and 15.