When Karla Boos rhapsodizes about the "stunning, cavernous space"
where she'll direct the Pittsburgh Opera Center's production of La Tragedie
de Carmen, guess what's she's talking about. Benedum Center? Byham Theater?
Nope. Although either Cultural District space has seen its share of
opera in Pittsburgh.
How about another "B" word? Try Brew House Space on Pittsburgh's
South Side. Blown away? It really doesn't take such a leap of faith-or
space-considering Boos is founding director and producer of Pittsburgh's
Quantum Theatre, renowned for staging in untraditional spaces. "Its
layers of life as an industrial garage will remain," she affirms,
speaking about this large section of the former Duquesne Brewery, also
home to an artists' collective and art gallery.
She's especially enthusiastic about "the big arches" and their
evocation of Spanish architectural elements, a fortuitous touch, considering
Spain's the location for this adaptation of George Bizet's Carmen. (The
opera, which premiered in 1875, centers on a soldier, Don Jose, and
the conflicts that ensue from his love for the beautiful Carmen.)
The version Boos directs was created in 1983 by British director Peter
Brook, known for his deconstruction of important plays and other theater
pieces. But have no fear, opera buffs: "It uses every bit of Bizet's
music," Boos reports. "All the great moments of the opera
are intact." She describes Brook's Carmen as "tighter, more
elemental" (and shorter than Bizet's). This Brook/Boos version
may especially appeal to those curious about opera-like younger people.
That's a good fit for the Opera Center, nationally known as a training
program for young professional singers.
"I want to emphasize their youth," says Boos. "These
characters [in Gormen] make life-changing decisions without realizing
the consequences; they're made in moments of passion as young people
do."
Unlike traditional opera, there's no proscenium: Boos breaks down barriers,
using the whole space for the production, with set design by Tim Kaulen
and lighting by Andy Ostrowski. The audience will be enveloped by the
production "to feel as if they're in a work of art," Boos
says.
She applauds Opera Center general director Mark Weinstein and artistic
director Christopher Hahn for "going out on a limb and challenging
audiences in the city." Directing here for 10 years now, Boos describes
her first time directing opera as a "challenge," and it's
a new experience for many of the performers as well: working with a
director who will challenge them from a theater perspective, in which
elements such as acting and movement will receive the same scrutiny
as the singing.
"I hope it's the wave of future," Boos concludes. "More
is being demanded now of opera as total theater."
La Tragedie de Carmen runs Dec. 7-9 and 14-16 at the Brew House Space,
2100 Mary St., South Side. For tickets, $18, call 412/394-3353 or
www.proartstickets.org -Mike May
