Carmen, a sizzling opera composed by Georges Bizet, is a timeless tale of love, jealousy, and fiery passion. Debuting at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1875, Carmen broke conventions with its raw portrayal of human emotions and its unconventional heroine.
The libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy was based on Prosper Mérimée's novella of the same name, captivating audiences with its dramatic story.
The opera centers on Carmen, a free-spirited gypsy who works in a cigarette factory. Her fiery personality and independent spirit clash with Don José, a naive soldier who becomes infatuated with her. Carmen's heart belongs elsewhere, to the glamorous bullfighter Escamillo. This love triangle fuels a passionate and destructive chain of events.
Bizet's music is a captivating blend of Spanish rhythms and French lyricism. The opera features iconic arias like Carmen's seductive "Habanera" and Escamillo's rousing "Toreador Song," both instantly recognizable even by non-opera aficionados.
Thomas Adès, the brilliant British pianist, conductor, and composer who has been hailed as among 'the most imposing figures in contemporary music' (The New Yorker), will lead the Academy Festival Orchestra in its final concert of the 2014 Summer Festival season at Santa Barbara's historic Granada Theatre tonight, August 9.
The Music Academy of the West will present a new, fully staged production of Georges Bizet's timeless opera Carmen in honor of celebrated mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne's 80th birthday at Santa Barbara's historic Granada Theatre. Directed by David Paul and conducted by James Gaffigan, the performances will take place at 7:30 pm tonight, August 1, and at 2:30 pm on Sunday, August 3. Tickets start at $15.
Thomas Adès, the brilliant British pianist, conductor, and composer who has been hailed as among “the most imposing figures in contemporary music” (The New Yorker), will lead the Academy Festival Orchestra in its final concert of the 2014 Summer Festival season at Santa Barbara's historic Granada Theatre on Saturday, August 9. Featuring Stravinsky's dramatic and innovative ballet Petrushka (1947 version) as well as Ives' Variations on “America,” Mr. Adès' own work Polaris: Voyage for Orchestra, and “Four Sea Interludes” from Britten's Peter Grimes, the concert will begin at 8 pm. Tickets start at $15.
The Music Academy of the West will present a new, fully staged production of Georges Bizet's timeless operaCarmen in honor of celebrated mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne's 80th birthday at Santa Barbara's historic Granada Theatre. Directed by David Paul and conducted by James Gaffigan, the performances will take place at 7:30 pm on Friday, August 1, and at 2:30 pm on Sunday, August 3. Tickets start at $15.
Having bested the field at this year's Concerto Competition Finals, three accomplished instrumentalists will take featured turns as soloists with the Academy Festival Orchestra under the baton of New York Philharmonic Assistant Conductor Joshua Weilerstein at the Granada Theatre tonight, July 19. Beginning at 8 pm, the concert will conclude with a performance of Tchaikovsky's soaring Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64. Tickets start at $15.
Having bested the field at this year's Concerto Competition Finals, three accomplished instrumentalists will take featured turns as soloists with the Academy Festival Orchestra under the baton of New York Philharmonic Assistant Conductor Joshua Weilerstein at the Granada Theatre on Saturday, July 19. Beginning at 8 pm, the concert will conclude with a performance of Tchaikovsky's soaring Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64. Tickets start at $15.
Warner Classics presents the most ambitious and extensive project ever undertaken in the name of the Maria Callas catalogue: a groundbreaking remastered edition of her complete recordings.
Gifted pianist Jeremy Denk - the recipient of a 2013 MacArthur 'Genius' Grant and this year's Avery Fisher Prize - will perform Beethoven's elegant and soulful First Piano Concerto with the Music Academy of the West's Academy Festival Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor Edward Gardner at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara tonight, July 12. Also featuring Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra and Suite No. 2 of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe, the concert will begin at 8 pm. Tickets start at $15.
Gifted pianist Jeremy Denk - the recipient of a 2013 MacArthur "Genius" Grant and this year's Avery Fisher Prize - will perform Beethoven's elegant and soulful First Piano Concerto with the Music Academy of the West's Academy Festival Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor Edward Gardner at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara on Saturday, July 12. Also featuring Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra and Suite No. 2 of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe, the concert will begin at 8 pm. Tickets start at $15.
Celebrated conductor Larry Rachleff will lead the Academy Festival Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's iconic Fifth Symphony as well as Richard Strauss' rousing Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare and Prokofiev's high-energy Symphony No. 5 at Santa Barbara's historic Granada Theatre beginning at 8 pm today, June 28. Tickets start at $15.
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts kicks off its 2014 summer opera productions.
Virtuoso violinist Daniel Hope - described as 'adventurous and brilliant' by The New York Times and 'a force to be reckoned with' by Gramophone - will lead a chamber orchestra of Academy faculty and Fellows in a program of works by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Alfred Schnittke, Erwin Schulhoff, and Max Richter beginning at 8 pm on Saturday, July 5, in Hahn Hall. Mr. Hope will lead from the violin in performances of Biber's Passacaglia, Schnittke's A Paganini, Schulhoff's Solo Sonata, and Mr. Richter's enthralling Recomposed: Vivaldi's Four Seasons - a reimagining of the well-known Baroque masterpiece. Tickets cost $50.
Celebrated conductor Larry Rachleff will lead the Academy Festival Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's iconic Fifth Symphony as well as Richard Strauss' rousing Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare and Prokofiev's high-energy Symphony No. 5 at Santa Barbara's historic Granada Theatre beginning at 8 pm on Saturday, June 28. Tickets start at $15.
Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will feature Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean as Vanya, Sharon Lockwood returning to the Alley as Sonia, Alley Artist Josie de Guzman returning as Masha, and Resident Actor Jay Sullivan as Spike. Rounding out the cast and making their Alley debuts are Rachael Holmes as Cassandra and Sarah Nealis as Nina. Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, helms the production and returns after having directed the Alley's 2011 production of Amadeus.
Birdland Jazz Club is pleased to announce their amazing line-up of talent for May 26 - June 1, featuring Bossabrasil with Marcos Valle and Roberto Menescal, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Spencer Day, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, and more. Details below!
'Quiero el beso' es un nuevo espectaculo de teatro musical original, escrito e ideado por Martin Dichiera y Florencia Muriel Gonzalez, con musica de Hernan Matorra y letras de Melisa Labat.
Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for May 19 - 25, featuring Karrin Allyson, Nick Ziobro with Michael Feinstein, Barbara Carroll, and more!
Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for recent Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Appearing in titles roles are Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean as Vanya, Sharon Lockwood returning to the Alley as Sonia, Alley Artist Josie de Guzman returning as Masha, and Resident Actor Jay Sullivan as Spike. Rounding out the cast and making their Alley debuts are Rachael Holmes as Cassandra and Sarah Nealis as Nina. Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, helms the production and returns after having directed the Alley's 2011 production of Amadeus.
The Music Academy of the West will inaugurate an unprecedented partnership with the world-renowned New York Philharmonic and present a new production of Georges Bizet's popular opera Carmen in honor of Marilyn Horne's 80th birthday as part of the Academy's 67th annual Summer Festival. The Music Academy will present some 200 events over the course of its coming season, which begins June 16 and concludes August 9.
"Quiero el beso" es un nuevo espectaculo de teatro musical original, escrito e ideado por Martin Dichiera y Florencia Muriel Gonzalez, con musica de Hernan Matorra y letras de Melisa Labat.
'Quiero el beso' es un nuevo espectaculo de teatro musical original, escrito e ideado por Martin Dichiera y Florencia Muriel Gonzalez, con musica de Hernan Matorra y letras de Melisa Labat.
Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.
The New York Philharmonic and the Music Academy of the West have entered into a four-year partnership that will create unique and intensive opportunities for selected Music Academy Fellows to train with New York Philharmonic musicians and Music Director Alan Gilbert in Santa Barbara and New York. Alan Gilbert, the New York Philharmonic, its Assistant Conductors, and musicians will have a presence at the Music Academy Summer Festival for training and performances each summer for four years beginning in 2014, culminating in a joint concert with the New York Philharmonic and Academy Festival Orchestra celebrating the Music Academy's 70th anniversary in 2017.
"Quiero el beso" es un nuevo espectaculo de teatro musical original, escrito e ideado por Martin Dichiera y Florencia Muriel Gonzalez, con musica de Hernan Matorra y letras de Melisa Labat.
Birdland Jazz Club is thrilled to announce their outstanding line-up of amazing talent for the month of April 2014. Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:
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