Winter opera at Northwestern offers two rare operatic experiences
A seldom-seen college production of ‘Carmen’ and vocal master class with Ana María Martínez
EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University Opera Theater stages George Bizet’s “Carmen,” a work seldom mounted at the university level due to its exceptional vocal and dramatic demands. The production presented by the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music has just 4 performances at Cahn Auditorium Feb. 26 through March 1.
More than 150 years after its March 3, 1875 premiere at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, Bizet’s tale of passion, obsession and tragedy is considered to be one of the most iconic and challenging operas in the repertoire.
“Taking on an ‘opera war horse’ such as ‘Carmen’ is always a challenge for an opera program with young voices,” explains Bienen artist-in-residence and director of opera Joachim Schamberger. “We are excited that we currently have the right combination of singers to be able to present this iconic piece.”
Though Parisian critics initially dismissed the work, later productions in the United States and Europe sparked widespread acclaim. “Carmen” quickly became a cornerstone of opera houses worldwide. By 2011, the Metropolitan Opera alone had staged the work nearly 1,000 times, and its unforgettable melodies — including the “Habanera” and the “March of the Toreadors” — have permeated popular culture through film, television and advertising.
Program details follow:
Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 26 through 28, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 1, 3 p.m.
Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St.
Joachim Schamberger, director
Patrick Furrer, conductor
Members of the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra
Tickets: $18 general public, $8 students
Love, jealousy and tragedy collide as Don José turns his back on his childhood sweetheart and his military career to pursue the attentions of the fiery, free-spirited Carmen. When the popular, yet boastful toreador Escamillo arrives and sets his sights on Carmen, José finds he must compete for her affection. (Performed in French with English supertitles.)
Tuesday, March 3, 8 p.m.
Galvin Recital Hall, 70 Arts Circle Drive
Tickets: $10 general public, $5 students
Acclaimed by the New York Times as an artist who creates "theatrical magic," soprano Ana María Martínez is a Grammy Award and Opera News Awards winner with an international career including a diverse lineup of leading ladies at celebrated opera houses and concert halls. Her 2025-26 season includes a return to Lyric Opera of Chicago in the roles of Despina in Mozart's Così fan tutte and Catrina in Gabriela Lena Frank's El último sueño de Frida y Diego, as well as a recital with pianist Craig Terry at the Harris Theater. In this master class, she coaches accomplished Bienen voice and opera program students.