Organization

Admin

Des Moines Metro Opera

Conductor

Kelly Kuo

Stage director

Brenna Corner

Lighting designer

Kate Ashton

Singer

Mezzo-soprano

Taylor Raven

Carmen

Tenor

Matthew Cairns

Don José

Baritone

Christian Pursell

Escamillo

Soprano

Yunuet Laguna

Michaela

Bass

Allen Michael Jones

Zuniga

Emma Marhefka

Frasquita

Imara Miles

Mercedes

Sankara Harouna

Morales

Ryan Wolfe

Dancaire

Daniel Esteban Lugo

Remendado

Set designer

David P. Gordon

Choreographer

Todd Rhoades

Costume designer

Jacob A Climer

Makeup artist

Brittany Rappise

Hairstylist

Chorus master

Lisa Hasson

Sandy Miller

Mary Craven Bartemes

Repetiteur

Tessa Hartle

Connor Buckley

Spoken

Christopher Fusco

Lillas Pastia

Orchestra

Des Moines Metropolitan Opera Festival Orchestra

French

Indianola

United States

Blank Performing Arts Center

Carmen Bizet

Public

English

Approved

A rebel with a cause, the free-spirited Carmen lives boldly in her fiery pursuit of freedom. “Born free, she will die free,” Carmen sings, but sparks fly after an encounter with military officer Don José. When the smitten José leaves everything behind to be with Carmen, their passionate affair takes a sudden, dangerous turn after the charismatic bullfighter Escamillo catches Carmen’s eye. With its twisting tale of romance, intrigue and obsession set to the instantly recognizable melodies of Bizet, it’s no wonder Carmen is one of the world’s most popular and beloved operas.

Mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven, who returns to DMMO after a 2021 debut as Pauline in Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades, makes her much-anticipated role debut as Carmen, and tenor Matthew Cairns makes his DMMO debut in the role of Don José. Matthew Cairns appears by kind permission of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Conductor Kelly Kuo, who is making his DMMO debut, will lead the production.

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble