UNLV Opera Theater presents Dialogues of the Carmelites in the Judy Bayley Theatre on March 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and March 17 at 2 p.m.
Francis Poulenc’s haunting opera explores themes of fear and faith. Originally set during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, director Linda Lister updates the setting to a 21st century dystopia akin to The Hunger Games or Divergent.
Casey Dakus and Valentine Baron (Tamsyn Scott-cover) play the tortured heroine Blanche. Perry Chacon Jr. and Aldo Perrelli sing the role of her brother, the Chevalier, while Aaron Pendleton is her father, the Marquis. The First Prioress is sung by Dr. Kimberly Gratland James and Eliysheba Anderson, while Karin Hochman plays the Second Prioress (Kristina Tullgren-cover). Matthew Erhart and Alex Price are the Chaplain, while Tiffaney-Anne Calabro and Xirui Huang alternate as Sister Constance (Emily Clements-cover). Rabuel Aviles sings Mother Marie, Hunter Rose Turner is Sister Mathilde, and Kate Meyer is Mother Jeanne. The First Commissioner is Ranon Pador, with Mark McCreery and Kurt Sedlmeir as the Jailer. The Carmelite sisters are Emily Clements, Abigale Hennings, Alessandra Las, Christina Mata, Jenelle Magbutay, Abbie McConnell, Betty Olsen, Tamsyn Scott, and Kristina Tullgren. Chase Gutierrez as Thierry and Andrew Williams as Javelinot round out the cast.
UNLV’s new opera division professor Darryl Cooper is music director for the production, and Taras Krysa conducts the UNLV Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets for Dialogues of the Carmelites are $25, $15 for UNLV faculty and staff, military, and seniors; admission is $5 with student ID. On March 15 at 5:30 p.m. in Dr. Arturo Rando-Grillot Recital Hall, join us for a free opening night pre-performance lecture on Poulenc led by esteemed musicologist Carl Schmidt of Towson University. Dialogues of the Carmelites is presented by arrangement with Hendon Music, a Boosey & Hawkes company, sole agent in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for Casa Ricordi/Universal Music Publishing, Ricordi, publisher and copyright holder.
