Why a live horse will trot across the Gallo Center stage in Modesto next weekend
It’s not every day that a live horse appears on the Gallo Center for the Arts stage. No other day — up until next weekend — in fact.
That’s when Opera Modesto continues its 35th anniversary season with “Carmen,” complete with a dressage dancing bullfighting horse trotting out to open Act IV of the classic Georges Bizet opera. OM will stage “Carmen” Friday, May 3, and Sunday, May 5, in the Mary Stuart Rogers Theatre.
“Carmen may be the most popular opera in the world,” OM General and Artistic Director Roy Stevens said in a press release. “It is filled to the brim with beautiful melodies recognizable even to those new to opera. The unforgettable story has compelling characters, edge-of-your-seat drama, romance and thrilling dance.”
Set in 1830s southern Spain, it tells the story of Don José, a soldier seduced by a fiery gypsy named Carmen. José deserts the military for her, but loses Carmen to a bullfighter.
Nikola Printz stars in the title role for OM, with the role of Don José performed by Modesto operatic tenor Christopher Bengochea. Brazilian opera bass-baritone Johnny França will make his U.S. debut as the bullfighter, Escamillo.
Getting França to Modesto for the production “took me five months of hard work with the Homeland Security, United States Citizenship Immigration Services to get his special visa approved,” Stevens said in an email, “and we are very excited to have this international star coming to Modesto. He is a delight.”
Others in the cast include Modesto’s Liisa Davila as Micaëla, basso profundo John Ames as Zuniga, Linda Baird as Mercédès and Donn Bradley as Moralès/Le Dancaïre. Making their Opera Modesto debuts are two Sacramento-based artists Darron Flagg as Le Remendado and Natasha Collier as Frasquita. Prospect Theater Project’s Founding Director Jack Souza has the French speaking role of Lillas Pastia, an innkeeper.
Stevens noted three important community collaborations for the production: The Ballet Tradiciones Folklorico Dance Company of Modesto, led by Christina and Gustavo Martinez, prepared two original dances for “Carmen”; Christina Martinez choreographed, with dances inspired by Spanish Flamenco and Zacatecas bullfighting-based dance traditions; and Center Stage Kids, led by Heather Vargas and Amy DeMoura, will take a group of elementary school-age children to perform as the Children’s Chorus.
A fourth collaboration is with the Portuguese-Azorean bloodless bullfighting community — which brings us back to that horse appearing on stage.
“Through a partnership with Coudelaria Martins in Hilmar, the famous Cavaleiro de Alternativo (horse-riding bullfighter) Paulo Ferreira and one of his world-class dressage dancing horses will grace the stage of the Rogers Theater,” Stevens said in the release. “Joining in the procession will be eight additional professional bullfighters, members of the Grupo de Forcados Amadores de Turlock (Suicide Squad) led by George Martins.”
Annalisa Winberg will direct “Carmen,” and Opera Modesto Music Director Ryan Murray will conduct.
Both performances will be preceded by a discussion led by Hillari DeSchane, Opera Modesto board member and opera aficionado, and Murray. The Pre-Opera Talks will be in the theater one hour prior to the performances.
“Carmen”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5
WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto
TICKETS: $20-$89
ONLINE: www.galloarts.org