The Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) closes the 2017 – 2018 Government House Concert Series with Bizet’s melodic genius on full display in two presentations of Carmen, this Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 8PM, and Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 2PM, at Government House. The Regina Symphony Chamber Players will serenade all those in attendance with a suite from the world’s most famous opera, as well as pieces by Julius Röntgen and Hugo Wolf.
The now acclaimed opera Carmen was composed in 1874 with rehearsals for the premiere beginning that October. Many of the orchestra members and even the chorus members declared some of their parts to be unplayable. Bizet resolved these issues, but as a result, the premiere was delayed until March 3, 1875. The notable musical figures in the audience of the premiere included Jules Massenet, Camille Saint-Saëns and Charles Gounod. The reaction of the public after this performance was not very promising and Bizet became convinced his opera was a failure. After performances of Carmen in Vienna (1875) and London (1878), it became a worldwide popular success and has been called the first opera of the verismo school of singing.
Tickets are on sale now! Tickets for this weekend’s concerts are available at reginasymphony.com or by calling the RSO Box Office from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the door one hour prior to each concert. For more information regarding this concert, the upcoming season and or to purchase tickets, please visit reginasymphony.com or call the Box Office at 306-586-9555.
