WICHITA, February 25, 2010 – Wichita Grand Opera will open the curtains on its new production of Bizet’s Carmen on Saturday, March 27 at 7pm in the Concert Hall at Century II. The fifth production of WGO’s spectacular “Season on a Grand Scale,” Bizet’s masterpiece will be sung in French with supertitles and spoken dialogue in English. This new production’s sets are designed by internationally renowned artist, Stefan Pavlov.

Set in 19th-Century Spain, Carmen is a timeless story of tragic love, passion and betrayal. The beguiling and seductive gypsy, Carmen, attracts the love of the young corporal Don José, who deserts his post to join Carmen and her band of smugglers. Carmen soon tires of Don José’s obsessive affection and turns her passion towards the bullfighter, Escamillo. Filled with jealousy, Don José follows her to Seville where he confronts her outside the arena where her new lover awaits; after Carmen again rejects his advances, he stabs her to death in a frenzy of rage. This masterful tragedy is replete with some of the most well-loved music in the world, including the sultry “Habañera,” the jaunty “Votre toast,” and the jubilant “Chanson de Toreador.”

For tickets, call WGO Box Office at 316.262.8054.

Internationally acclaimed conductor and composer Maestro Steven Mercurio guides the cast and orchestra for this production. His engagements have taken him to many of the world’s best loved opera houses including the Teatro dell’Opera in Roma, San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, the Teatro Bellini in Catania, and the English National Opera, among many others. Maestro Mercurio has also appeared with such symphonic organizations as the London Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, to mention only a few. He has conducted for several telecasts including the 1999 Christmas in Vienna featuring “The Three Tenors” and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. He frequently collaborates with superstar “Andrea Bocelli” as both an arranger and conductor, including his work as conductor for the now classic PBS special American Dream – Andrea Bocelli’s Statue of Liberty concert.

Mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock sings the title role of Carmen. Ms. Babcock is quickly gaining momentum as the most sought-after interpreter of Carmen, having performed this demanding role with San Antonio Opera, Toledo Opera, New York City Opera and the Westfield Symphony. She has performed the role of Maddelena in Rigoletto with Nashville Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Florida Grand Opera where her “dusky mezzo-soprano and sexy theatricality lit up the stage” (The Miami Herald), as well as the role of Aldonza/Dulcinea in The Man of La Mancha with Lyric Opera of San Diego. In addition, Ms. Babcock will perform at the 2010 Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland.

Tenor Richard Crawley makes his Wichita Grand Opera debut as Don José. Mr. Crawley has sung in opera houses throughout the United States and throughout the world, including Cavaradossi in Tosca opposite Carol Vaness as well as roles in Eugene Onegin, Le Grand Macabre, Dr. Atomic and Norma with San Francisco Opera, Don José in Carmen in Athens, Greece, opposite Denyce Graves, the title role in Mascagni’s Il Piccolo Marat at Avery Fisher Hall with Teatro Grattacielo, and Enée in Les Troyens with the Stars of the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg under the baton of Maestro Valery Gergiev. This year, he will be joining the rosters of the New York Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, and the Wichita Grand Opera.

Renowned stage director James Marvel returns to Wichita Grand Opera after directing last season’s production of The Barber of Seville. His recent production of Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress for the San Francisco Opera Merola Program was named "Best Production of the Year" by the San Francisco Chronicle. He was also named Classical Singer Magazine's "Stage Director of the Year" in 2008. Marvel served as Co-Director with Henryk Baranowski at Teatr Wielki in Lodz, Poland on Philip glass' Akhnaten, which won two Golden Mask Awards for Best Direction and Best Production of the Year.

Native Kansan David Lara gives his Wichita Grand Opera debut in the role of Escamillo. Mr. Lara made his professional debut with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, where he sang the roles of Morales in Carmen, Silvano in Un Ballo in Maschera, Kromov in The Merry Widow, and Hosie in Floyd's Cold Sassy Tree. In addition, Mr. Lara was the winner of the Naftzger Music Competition: Voice Division Winner in 2006 and the recipient of the Kaplan Prize in 2005.

For the second time this season, Wichita native Michael Nansel returns to WGO from Washington National Opera, where he sang in recent productions of La Boheme, Carmen, and Andrea Chénier. Mr. Nansel, who sang the role of Belcore in WGO’s February production of Elixir of Love, will sing the role of Zuniga.

Giving her WGO debut in the role of Micaëla is soprano Stacey Canterbury, who has performed in roles such as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Opera Colorado, the title role in Aida with Opera Fort Collins, and the title role in Suor Angelica with Tri-Cities Opera. Also appearing in this production are Will Browning in the role of Moralès, Mary Ellen Swords in the role of Frasquita, Suzanne Hendrix in the role of Mercédès, Dustin Peterson in the role of Le Remendado, and Mirko D’Angelo in the role of Le Dancaïre.

Single tickets for Carmen are $35, $58, and $85, with special discount prices available for seniors, students, military personnel, and groups of 10 or more. In addition, WGO is teaming up with the Broadview Hotel and the Hawthorn Suites to offer a special package for out-of-town patrons: two “Better” tickets and a one night stay in one of their exclusive suites, all at a cost of $150. For single tickets or group discounts: