Orange County, California's resident grand opera producing company

600 W. Warner Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92707
714-546-6000 

Press contact: Rebecca Loesch (714.830.6307)
Laura Shane, Peter Goldman, Tim Choy
Davidson and Choy Publicity (323.954.7510)
Photos are available by email request rloesch@operapacific.org

            Executive Director Robert C. Jones has announced tenor Chad Shelton in the role of Don Jose for Opera Pacific’s upcoming production of Bizet’s Carmen at Segerstrom Hall, Opera Pacific’s home opera house, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The production will be conducted by John DeMain and directed by Ron Daniels. The production is designed by Ricardo Hernandez (sets) and Constance Hoffman (costumes). Previously announced Yu Qiang Dai withdrew from the production due to illness.

            The most popular opera of all time, Carmen is the story of a woman whose lust - and tragedy - is to live on her own terms. Opera Pacific’s Carmen is Milena Kitic, the fiery mezzo-soprano who received rave critical acclaim in the April 2006 Aïda as Amneris, and has sung Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera and Los Angeles Opera. Alongside Ms. Kitic is sensational tenor Chad Shelton, who makes his Opera Pacific debut in the role of Don Jose. Opera Pacific’s 2006-2007 season DIVO of the Year, Luis Ledesma, is Escamillo and Laquita Mitchell, who is making stops in major U.S. opera houses this season, sings Micaela. The story overflows with Latin flair, featuring vibrant sun-splashed sets, the powerful Opera Pacific Orchestra and Chorus, and toreadors, soldiers, and gypsies galore.

            “Dashing,” “virile,” “good looking,” and “with a lovely tenor voice that soared musically,” are some of the phrases used by critics to describe American tenor Chad Shelton in his recent role debut as Alfredo in La Traviata. The Texas native is in growing demand for leading lyric tenor roles worldwide. 

            Under conductor Patrick Summers, Chad Shelton made both his international opera debut performing Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Australian Opera and his European opera debut as Mitch in André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire at Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg. In fall 2005 he returned to France to perform Tamino in a L’opéra de Nancy et de Lorraine production of Die Zauberflöte conducted by Lang Lessing.

            In the United States Shelton has made his Florida Grand Opera debut as Leo in Regina with conductor Stewart Robertson, a role that he repeated in his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut in performances conducted by John Mauceri. His Dallas Opera debut was as Jacquino in Fidelio which was conducted by Music Director Graeme Jenkins. His San Francisco Opera debut, in summer 2008, will be as Hylas in Berlioz’s Les Troyens in a production directed by Richard Jones and conducted by Donald Runnicles.

            Recognized as an excellent musician, Chad Shelton has been invited by Houston Grand Opera to perform leading roles in many contemporary operas. In fall 2004 he created the leading role of Ulises in the world premiere of Daniel Catán’s opera Salsipuedes. James Robinson directed the production, which was conducted by Guido Maria Guida. That same season he returned to Houston as Niklas in the world premiere performances of Mark Adamo’s new opera Lysistrata. Reviewing his performance the Houston Press wrote “Tenor Chad Shelton sings ardently as Nico and looks convincingly as a warrior - Adamo’s vocal gymnastics don’t faze him.” Mr. Shelton gave the first New York performances of the work at the New York City Opera in spring 2006. He also performed the role of George in Richard Danielpour’s new opera Margaret Garner, which is set to a libretto by Toni Morrison, in performances at Cincinnati Opera and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

         Opera Pacific Artistic Director and Conductor John DeMain will lead the orchestra in Bizet’s thrilling and unforgettable operatic score, one of the most famous in the repertoire, with a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy. DeMain has appeared with many major companies around the world including the venerable La Scala, the New York City Opera, The Washington Opera and the Paris Opera. Maestro DeMain made his Opera Pacific debut during its inaugural season at The Orange County Performing Arts Center with Porgy and Bess. Maestro DeMain is also the Music Director of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Advisor of the Madison Opera.

            Carmen had its world premiere at the Opéra Comique of Paris on March 3, 1875. It played thirty-seven performances in its first season and has been performed there well over three thousand times since. A popular Opera myth is that Carmen was initially a failure, and that the disappointment killed Bizet. Neither statement is true. However harsh some of the initial critics might have been, Carmenwas fairly popular from the first with the public, and today has become one of the world's most performed operas. In fact, Opera America claims it to be the fourth most-performed opera in North America. The only connection between the death of Bizet three months after the first production of Carmen to the opera itself is just plain overwork and exhaustion on Bizet’s part, if there is a connection at all.

            Set in early nineteenth century Seville, Carmen begins in front of a cigarette factory where Carmen, a gypsy, mesmerizes all the men who encounter her. When asked to choose a lover, she throws a flower in front of Corporal Don José. He is temporarily transfixed until Micaela, his fiancée, brings him a letter and kiss from his mother. As soon as Micaela leaves however, screams are heard from the factory and Don José and his superior, Zuniga find that Carmen has been fighting with another woman, and slashed her face with a knife. Zuniga attempts to interrogate Carmen and instructs José to arrest her. Carmen seduces José and convinces him to let her escape, for which he is arrested.

            The action shifts to Lillas Pastia's inn, frequented by smugglers, on an evening two months later. Zuniga and The Matador Escamillo woo Carmen but she can only think of José. Carmen and José are reunited as the evening progresses, but as José begins to leave, he is surprised by Zuniga, and draws his sword upon him. The gypsies disarm both men and take away Zuniga as José is forced to flee with Carmen.

            In a desolate spot in the mountains, Carmen comes to the realization that José is not her match, and turns her attentions to the Matador Escamillo. Her fate is foreshadowed as she and her girlfriends Frasquita and Mercedes have their fortunes read. When Micaela and Escamillo arrive on the scene, jealousies flare. The tension mounts furthur when Escamillo invites Carmen and the smugglers to the bullfights. When Micaela tells José that his mother is dying, he is forced to leave Carmen, but vowing that he will return to her, he bars her way as she rushes to the sound of Escamillo’s voice in the distance.

            Carmen’s dire prophecy of her life plays itself out in a square before the arena at Seville as the crowds prepare for the bullfight. The crowd greets Carmen and Escamillo, as Carmen tells all that she had never loved anyone so much. Despite being warned that José is in the crowd and intends to kill her, Carmen takes all in stride saying she will speak to him. Before she can enter the arena however, José confronts her. For the last time, half-crazed he demands her love and fidelity, even after she repeatedly explains that she loves him no longer. When she scornfully throws back the ring that he gave to her, he fatally stabs her and she dies at the moment that Escamillo triumphs in the arena. The spectators exit the arena and José, completely broken, confesses his action to all, exclaiming: "Ah! Carmen! ma Carmen adorée!".

About Opera Pacific

In just twenty-one seasons, Opera Pacific has established itself as one of the finest professional opera companies in the nation. Opera Pacific's mainstage productions, extensive community outreach programs, and energetic Guild Alliance combine to create a cultural resource for all of Southern California. An audience of more than 670,000 have enjoyed Opera Pacific's productions at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, while over 575,000 young people have discovered the world of opera through the company's in-school presentations, Student Previews, and nationally recognized Opera Camps.

Opera Pacific’s 21^st season (2006-2007) includes three operas produced by Opera Pacific in The Center’s Segerstrom Hall. Mozart’s Don Giovanni from January 17-27, 2007, followed by Bizet’s Carmen from February 28 to March 10, 2007, and Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, performing April 11-22, 2007.

Carmen will be sung in French with English translation projected above the stage.

For more Information on this production and the artists, contact Opera Pacific Public Relations and Marketing Associate, Rebecca Loesch at 714-830-6307, rloesch@operapacific.org