THE OPERA MAURITIUS FESTIVAL 2010 PRESENTS CARMEN

produced by Fondation Spectacles et Culture

Opéra Mauritius 2010. For its second season from the 10th to the 19th September 2010 Opera Mauritius Festival is presenting Carmen by Georges Bizet, the most frequently staged opera of all time. The cast includes both Mauritian and international artists.

Mauritian artists include the singers Véronique Zuël-Bungaroo, Natacha Constantin, Jean-Michel Ringadoo as well as the choirs. Tico Soupaya and Denys Martineau have speaking roles and Gérard Sullivan is responsible for the stage direction. Some of the international artists such as Francesco Petrozzi, Matias Tosi and Katrin Caine are already known to the Mauritian public as they took part in the Pearl Fishers last year. They will all be accompanied, as they were for the Opera Mauritius Festival 2009, by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Martin Wettges.

Other events such as recitals and workshops will be held during the Opera Mauritius Festival 2010.

Ann-Katrin Naidu. In the title role, audiences will discover the mezzo soprano Ann-Katrin Naidu who is of German-Indian parentage. She is one of today’s most sought after mezzo sopranos in both opera houses and concert halls. Her favourite role is that of Bizet’s gypsy girl which she sings regularly in the most prestigious productions.

The new concert hall. Carmen will be staged at the J&J Auditorium in Phoenix, a new hall with an orchestra pit and good acoustics, and seating for an audience of 2,000.

CAST

Music Director: Martin Wettges
Orchestra: Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
Stage Direction: Gérard Sullivan and Angela Brandt
Scenographer: Eelco de Jong

Soloists:
Ann-Katrin Naidu, mezzo-soprano (Carmen)
Francesco Petrozzi, tenor (Don José)
Matias Tosi, bass-baritone (Escamillo)
Véronique Zuël-Bungaroo, soprano (Micaëla)
Katrin Caine, soprano (Mercédès)
Natacha Constantin, soprano (Frasquita)
Andreas Kohn, basse (Zuniga)
Tobias Neumann, bass-baritone (Moralès)
Kevin Conners, tenor (Remendado)
Jean-Michel Ringadoo, tenor (Dancaïre)
Joël Ramdoo, tenor (a gypsy)
Sandrine Thomas-Herchenroder, mezzo-soprano (an orange seller)
Tico Soupaya, spoken role (Lillas Pastia)
Denys Martineau, spoken role (the guide)

Chorus : Opera Mauritius choir and children’s choir directed by Katrin Caine
Dancers and choreographers : Eva Caillé, Thabo Legrand and Antonio Martinez
Mime : Vincent Rubinfajer