Carmen at the Abbey Theatre, St Albans
Deborah Davison as Carmen - Credit: Archant
SIX sizzling performances of Bizet’s classic opera Carmen can be seen at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans next week.
St Albans Chamber Opera (SACO) will have a double cast for the production with the title role sung at three of the
performances by St Albans-based mezzo-soprano, Deborah Davison.
Deborah works with English National Opera, where she has sung and understudied many roles. She was recently praised in Opera Magazine for stepping in at short notice to sing the role of Third Lady in the final run of Nick Hytner’s acclaimed production of The Magic Flute.
She has sung a number of roles with SACO, including the title role in La Perichole and Maurya in Riders to the Sea.
Deborah has also sung several concerts of a “potted” version of Carmen, including the main
highlights of the opera, with the group The London Theatre Voices.
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Deborah’s performances are at 7.30pm next Tuesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 21, as well as 3pm on Saturday, March 23.
The other performances at 7.30pm next Monday, March 18, Wednesday, March 20, and Friday, March 22, will be sung by Louisa Petais.
Director Paula Chitty takes Bizet’s masterpiece and sets the action in the 1930s during the Spanish Civil War.
The opera opens in a restaurant - complete with Spanish dancing waiters - where Carmen lures away Don Jose
(sung by Robert Lomax and Phillip Medinos on different nights) from his military duties, only to leave him for the toreador, Escamillo (Oliver Gibbs).
The opera is fully staged with a small orchestra, conducted by David Ireson. The chorus and smaller roles will be sung by local singers and along with the dancing waiters, there will be cigarette girls, soldiers and
smugglers all creating the Spanish mood.
Tickets are £18 with students £10, available at www.abbeytheatre.org.uk or 01727 857861
