The Tour de France is about culture as well as sport and Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra stages a unique performance of the classic opera Carmen on Grand Depart weekend.
The special production of Bizet’s opera will be held at Huddersfield Town Hall on Saturday July 5 (6pm).
The orchestra has teamed up with Focus Opera to stage the French masterpiece as part of Grand Depart celebrations.
Music director Benjamin Ellin said: “It’s great to be part of the celebrations for such an event as the Grand Depart and what better way to make a contribution than with such a work as Carmen?
“It’s full of wonderful melodies, great dances and white hot drama.”
The unique production, designed by Keith Cheetham of Focus Opera, sees the action almost taking part amongst the audience as the lower part of the hall is converted into a cafe-style stage which will make the audience, who will dine in the Carmen Café before the show, as close as possible to the drama.
“Everyone will have heard some bits of Carmen as the tunes are so great,” said Mr Ellin. “But it is a terrifically exciting story, too, full of everything a good drama needs.”
Carmen is the orchestra’s fourth opera in just three years following hugely successful productions of Puccini’s La Boheme, Tosca and Wagner’s Flying Dutchman.
“Producing opera is one of the most difficult musical achievements to pull off,” said Mr Ellin. “It requires a level of cooperation and communication that is constantly working at a high intensity and across many different groups and skill sets.
“The fact that the orchestra still has a hunger for it is wonderful and a testament to their dedication and commitment to putting on a cracking show.”
Carmen comes on the back of a busy year which included a tour of the Isle of Man.
Carmen sees the orchestra welcome back stars of previous operas with Terrence den Dulk and Sarah Helsby Hughes taking up leading roles alongside debutant Amiee Toshney who plays the lead role of Carmen.
Tickets priced £10 and £14 are available from Kirklees Box Offices on 01484 223200.
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