Friday, February 23, 2007

Mayors not required to sing for their supper

Mayors not required to sing for their supper
By JAMES D. WATTS JR. World Scene Writer
2/23/2007

The concert hall will meet city hall during the fourth act of Tulsa Opera's production of "Carmen."

Bizet's opera concludes with all of Seville coming to attend a bullfight, in a procession led by that city's mayor.

When Tulsa Opera stages this scene, the mayor of Seville will be played by . . . well, by a mayor.

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor has the part for the opera's opening night, Saturday at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. She'll cede the role to Richard Carter, mayor of Broken Arrow, for the March 2 performance, and Owasso Mayor Stephen Cataudella will appear on March 4.

The mayors aren't required to sing. That will be left to the rest of the cast of "Carmen," which features Grace Echauri in the title role, Scott Piper as Don Jose, Donita Volkwijn as Micaela, Carlos Archuleta as Escamillo, Jennifer Holliday as Mercedes and Jeffrey Buchman as Zuniga.

Tulsa Opera associate conductor and chorusmaster Kostis Protopapas will conduct the Tulsa Opera Orchestra. Elise Sandell is directing the production, which features choreography by renown flamenco dancer and choreographer Rosa Mercedes.


James D. Watts Jr. 581-8478
james.watts@tulsaworld.com

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