University of Oklahoma School of Music - Opera

Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall

February 13 - 15, 2015

Directed by:  Dr. Jonathan Shames

Scenic Designer: 

Costume Designer: 

 

 

Carmen is one of Bizet’s most recognized operas.  Set in Seville in the 1820s, the story is a mix of love, conflict, intrigue, and betrayal.  The music is very familiar, even for those who are not fans of opera.

 

This version was a concert version of the opera.  Performed in Sharp Concert Hall, the stage was filled with the fantastic orchestra.  The lead performers, costumed in great fashion, occupied the front of the stage.  The ensemble choir was above the stage, split on either side of the massive concert organ.  The staging was minimal, just enough physical action to represent the character and some of the action.  Dominating the visual arrangement was a giant rose in the center of the stage above the orchestra.

 

The challenge with a concert version of this piece is communicating effectively the ideas of time and place without having any physical representation of such.  In addition, the orchestra and choir were fully lit, necessitating that I create enough highlight on the lead performers to effectively communicate the story.

 

My research was of art of that time period, particularly for Seville and the bullfighting.  Combining that with the nature of the rose scenic piece, the color palate was fairly neutral, with enough color and texture to highlight certain moments.  In addition, I wanted to provide just enough isolation to focus on specific performers without creating too strong of a contrast, or plunging the orchestra into darkness.

 

I made use of the crossing light positions to accomplish most of my design.  The backdrop was framed by using uplighting on the walls behind the orchestra, and on the back walls either side of the organ.  These uplights gave me background color options to shift the scene and emotional feel.  To help shape the performers, I also employed strip lights in footlight positions.  These helped highlight the principle performers and negated the sharp front light angle that is traditional with concert halls.

 

The lighting designer needs to help communicate the story, even when we don’t have a physical world behind us to do so.  I was very satisfied with the final design and with the collaboration with the other designers.  The collaboration created a beautiful production.