Bellevue Opera: Carmen
$50 ($35 ages 12 & under)
- Dawn Padula, mezzo-soprano (Carmen)
- Alfredo Carrillo, tenor (Don José)
- Michael A. Nim, tenor (Don José)
- Nini Wang, soprano (Micaëla)
- Verity Jo Spencer Hall, soprano (Micaëla)
- Misha Myznikov, bass-baritone (Escamillo)
- Veronica Nim Olson, soprano (Frasquita)
- Yining Peng, mezzo-soprano (Mercédès)
- Katie H. Stevenson, mezzo-soprano (Mercédès)
- Huangxing Li, tenor (El Remendado)
- Michael Heitmann, baritone (El Dancaïro)
- Jared White, baritone (Moralès)
- John Wagner, bass (Zuniga)
Two Nights Only: Monday, September 18 and Wednesday, September 20. Secure your seats early!
Step into the seductive embrace of Bellevue Opera's breathtaking rendition of Bizet's timeless masterpiece. Prepare for a mesmerizing journey into Carmen's depths of love, betrayal, and unyielding passion!
Carmen is an opera in four acts by French composer Georges Bizet. It premiered on March 3, 1875. The opera is based on the story of a hot-blooded young corporal in the Spanish cavalry stationed near Seville, Don José, who is ordered to arrest Carmen, a young, flirtatious Gypsy woman, for assaulting a coworker. Greatly charmed by her, José allows her to escape. Carmen is an enduring story of passion, lust, jealousy, obsession, and revenge which remains one of the most popular operas in the canon today. Bizet’s Spanish-inflected score is bursting with passionate melodies and famous numbers such as Carmen's seductive "Habanera" and Escamillo's "Toreador Song."
About Bellevue Opera (formerly Lyric Opera Northwest)
Ever since 2005, Bellevue Opera (formerly known as Lyric Opera NW) has captivated the hearts of audiences nationwide. Bellevue Opera offers state-of-the-art shows and performances all throughout Bellevue. At Bellevue Opera, our audience is our family, and we go out of our way to showcase productions that truly make an impact. After years of hard work, we are finally at the forefront of the industry. Swing by and catch our talented performers in one of our many productions!
https://www.bellevueopera.com/About Dawn Padula, mezzo-soprano (Carmen)
Dawn Padula, mezzo-soprano is a versatile performer of opera, oratorio, musical theatre, jazz, and classical concert repertoire. Opera roles include Carmen (Carmen), Azucena (Il Trovatore), Lady Jane (Patience 2018 Gregory Awards People’s Choice Award Nominee), Lady Blanche (Princess Ida), Ruth (The Pirates of Penzance), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Meg (Falstaff), The Third Lady (The Magic Flute), the Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Maddalena (Rigoletto), Isabella (The Italian Girl in Algiers), Erika (Vanessa), and the Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas). In the Pacific Northwest, she has performed with Tacoma Opera, Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Kitsap Opera, Concert Opera of Seattle, PLU’s Jazz Under the Stars, Puget Sound Concert Opera, the Tacoma Concert Band, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Seattle Bach Choir, the Second City Chamber Series, Classical Tuesdays in Old Town Tacoma Concert Series, Lakewood Playhouse, and Opera Pacifica. With Seattle Opera, she is a member of the Supplementary Chorus. In June 2017, she toured to Varna and Sofia, Bulgaria as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Pazardzhik Symphony. In August 2017, she released her debut classical solo album, Gracious Moonlight, featuring Dominick Argento’s Pulitzer Prize winning song cycle, From the Diary of Virginia Woolf. Dr. Padula is currently the Director of Vocal Studies at the University of Puget Sound School of Music.
http://dawnpadula.com/home.htmlAbout Alfredo Carrillo, tenor (Don José)
Tenor Alfredo Carrillo, born in Durango, Mexico, made his debut singing Mozart's Requiem with the Symphony Orchestra of the University of Juarez in the Mexican State of Durángo. He studied with maestros Martha Irene Flores, Manuel Martínez and Javier Galindo, carried out an artistic residency in Monterrey, Nuevo León for two seasons singing Nemorino by Elixir de Amor and Edgardo de Lucia di Lammermoor. He won the 2015 Olivia Gorra contest for best tenor at the National Center for the Arts in Mexico City where he later made his debut in the M Ponce room of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in 2016. In Russia he was selected best tenor in the international contest Academia in Perm City, Russia where he performed at the International Amphitheater.
Throughout the pandemic, he recorded his first EP of five opera arias, 'From My Heart to Yours, A Collection of Romantic Tenor Arias'; his first full album, 'Romance, Español, and Italiano'; a holiday EP, 'A Heartfelt Christmas'; several duets ('The Prayer' and 'Força Estranha' with soprano Louisa Benitez and 'From My Heart, Love Songs and Duets' with soprano Faina Morozov) in addition to original crossover singles, 'Ese Capricho' and 'Un Ser Mejor'.
He has taken master classes with internationally renowned tenors Agim Hushi, Francisco Araiza, and Fernando de la Mora; and sopranos Irina Rufovna and Marianne Weltmann. He received vocal coaching with Rogelio Riojas Nolasco in San Miguel Allende where he prepared the roles of Alfredo in La Traviata, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Don José in Carmen, and Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana; singing the lead tenor in these Operas in Durángo, Guanajuato, Queretaro, Colima, and Mexico City, and also performing in San José, Costa Rica. He has delivered showcase presentations in various cities in the United States including Los Angeles' Celebrity Center and Westwood Village Watermark in California, Omaha, Nebraska, Seattle, and Bellevue, Washington, Columbus, New Mexico, and more.
Tenor Carrillo sang for Placido Domingo at the 2016 Revueltas Festival where he also was given a master class by the Maestro. A maestro himself of his own vocal studio, he was recently recognized as being among the seven greatest alumni in the 75-year history of the Technological Institute of Durángo as a Graduating Engineer for his legacy and artistic contribution to the community of Durángo.
https://alfredocarrilloten.wixsite.com/websiteAbout Michael A. Nim, tenor (Don José)
International tenor Michael A. Nim has appeared in numerous Lyric Opera Northwest productions (now the Bellevue Opera) including as the Artful Dodger in Oliver!, Angelotti in Tosca, Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Morales in Carmen, and, moving on to the tenor repertoire, as Goro in Madama Butterfly, Borsa in Rigoletto, and Alfredo in La Traviata, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Rodolfo in La Boheme.
As a tenor concert soloist, he has been featured twice with the Federal Way Symphony. Recent engagements include tenor soloist in the Messiah at St. Marks, Alfredo in La Traviata with Lyric Opera Northwest at Meydenbauer Center Theatre, Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor and El Remendado in Carmen in 2016, and Nejus in The Merry Widow with Tacoma Opera. He was invited to sing in Turandot with Pacific Northwest Opera in Skagit County, and gave a solo recital at the Frye Art Museum. He has also sung in Caltagirone, Sicily, and also London, England, and will soon make a path in his career to Germany. Aside from singing Opera, he also loves teaching private voice lessons.
https://www.operabase.com/artists/michael-nim-77509/enAbout Nini Wang, soprano (Micaëla)
About Verity Jo Spencer Hall, soprano (Micaëla)
About Misha Myznikov, bass-baritone (Escamillo)
About Veronica Nim Olson, soprano (Frasquita)
A lyric coloratura originally hailing from New York City, Veronica began performing professionally with the Metropolitan Opera. Since moving to Seattle, she has appeared in principal roles with Seattle Opera, Tacoma Opera, Lyric Opera Northwest, Bellevue Opera, Kirkland Performance Center, Kitsap Opera and at Benaroya Hall, and studied at Pacific Lutheran University.
About Katie H. Stevenson, mezzo-soprano (Mercédès)
Katie Stevenson made her European debut at the Ilmington Music Festival in England, and shortly after performed in concerts in Ireland and Germany. Before moving to Germany she performed the title role in Carmen, Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana and Biancofiore in Francesca da Rimini with the Amici Opera in Philadelphia. She first performed in Philadelphia with the Atlantic Coast Opera Festival in the role of Emilia in Verdi’s Otello.
While living in New York City, Ms. Stevenson performed the role of Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte at the Metropolitan Opera Guild Rose Venue, Romeo in I Capuleti e I Montecchi with Ido Dinner Opera, Mercedes in Carmen with the Amato Opera Company, and Enrichetta in I Puritani with Riverside Opera. She performed in concerts with Dicapo Opera, Amore Opera, Opera On Tap, and Opera Collective in NYC.
In Alaska she performed roles in Suor Angelica, Kalmanoff's The Audition, Carmen and Roméo et Juliette with the Anchorage Opera. As a young artist she traveled to Nova Scotia to perform the role of The Secretary in Menotti’s The Consul and to North Carolina to perform Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte.
Ms. Stevenson was born in Oregon and has recently moved to Seattle.
https://www.facebook.com/KatieStevensonMezzoSoprano/About Huangxing Li, tenor (El Remendado)
Huangxing Li stands as an eminent figure in the world of vocal music, celebrated for his adeptness in performing both classical opera pieces and contemporary art songs. Throughout his illustrious career, he has graced numerous stages, most notably with his performance of Rameau's Sympathy in a collaboration with Victory Hall Opera. His evocative solo recital, along with various other concert appearances, showcases the depth and breadth of his talent. Beyond his captivating stage performances, Huangxing's technical prowess has shined in competitive settings, earning him several awards, including a 1st place finish at the American Protégé International Vocal Competition.
About Michael Heitmann, baritone (El Dancaïro)
About Jared White, baritone (Moralès)
Jared White is a Seattle-native baritone, actor, and private teacher. Known for his powerful voice and commanding stage presence, Jared has had the pleasure of singing for many local performance companies and in concert recitals. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Lowbrow Opera Collective. His love of opera is matched only by his love of dogs, gardening, reading, and the Oxford comma.
https://jaredwhite.studio/About John Wagner, bass (Zuniga)
John Wagner comes from Leavenworth, WA, where he is known as the co-founder of the popular Leavenworth Summer Theater. He has been seen at Bellevue Opera as Benoit in La Boheme, and has also sung with the choruses of Seattle Opera and San Diego Opera. Recent roles include the King in Cinderella with Leavenworth Summer Theater, and Mephistopheles in Faust with Bremerton Opera.