Preview - Carmen at The King’s Head Theatre from April 3-May 5
Published: 29 March, 2012
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
Bizet’s Carmen, possibly the world’s most popular opera, is being relocated from Seville in the early 19th century to the north London of today in a new OperaUpClose production opening shortly at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington.
“Gangs and outcasts lead this version of Carmen’s drama set in a modern-day north London,” says director Rodula Gaitanou, a former Jette Parker at the Royal Opera House. Bizet’s orchestral music is being played by a guitar and piano and there’s a new translation by playwright Ben Cooper, a rising star on the new writing circuit.
Inevitably, there are difficulties squeezing such a popular opera into the backroom of a pub. Gone will be the orchestral prelude, one of the most famous in all opera; gone will be the orchestra richness that helps to shape every number to perfection.
But the style of boutique opera championed by OperaUpClose has shown that’s not necessarily such a bad thing as long as the singers rise to the challenge.
That’s likely to be the case with its new Carmen as the title role is being taken by Flora McIntosh, a highly experienced mezzo-soprano born and bred in Tufnell Park – she got into music during her time at Camden School for Girls sixth-form in the late-1980s. “This is my fourth Carmen. It’s a role I really enjoy singing and I’m greatly looking forward to finding new sides to her character,” she says. “It’s going to be a very intimate Carmen in a way that I think will be accessible for people who don’t do opera.”
• Carmen, The King’s Head, 115 Upper Street, N1, April 3-May 5, tickets from £21.50/cons £18.50, (£10 previews, April 3-8), 020 7478 0160, www.kingsheadtheatre.com