Opera with a Ukrainian cast coming to Malvern Theatres

Bizet Carmen is the latest opera from Ellen Kent to be shown in Malvern, following the success of Madama Butterfly earlier this month. 

The opera is performed by the Ukrainian National Municipal Opera Kyiv, who are all still performing amid the crisis ongoing for them back home. 

Thirty members of the group will be performing, led by Vasyl Vaslenko, artistic director and conductor for the National Municipal Opera and Ballet Theatre Kyiv, as well as Nicolae Dohotaru, guest conductor and artistic director of the National Opera of Moldova.

The opera tells the story of a gypsy woman whose beauty leads a soldier to desert his job and eventually leads to her murder.

The set reflects the architecture of Seville, with Roman and Moorish influences evident throughout, built in England by Setup Scenery, who also build sets for the Royal Opera Covent Garden.

A variety of locations will be used to tell the story, which includes the main square, a bull ring and a tobacco factory.

The production will be sung in French, with English subtitles displayed above the stage.

A spokesperson for Malvern Theatres said: "We welcome the performance of Carmen on April 10th and are delighted to have Ukrainian National Municipal Opera Kyiv returning after the success of Madama Butterfly."

At the end of the Madama Butterfly Performance earlier this month, the Ukrainian national anthem was sung at the end of the production.

Read More: Malvern Theatres emotionally applaud Ukrainian performer

Picture taken from Carmen. Picture Credit: Ellen Kent Productions.

The Ukrainian tenor, Vitalii Liskovetskyi, who will be returning to play Don Jose in Carmen, was greeted with huge applause from emotional onlookers.

Carmen will be at Malvern Theatres for one night only on April 11, starting at 7pm.

Tickets for the event start at £31.50. You can visit the Malvern Theatres website for more information.