Opera Buffs present Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen,” in concert form, on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m. at the Colburn School’s Zipper Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Four illustrious Opera Buffs alumni will perform leading roles: sopranos Kelley O’Connor (Carmen) and Vanessa Vasquez (Micäela), tenor Charles Castronovo (Don José), and bass-baritone Rod Gilfry (Escamillo). Remaining cast members and covers are current Opera Buffs grant recipients and singers.
Opera Buffs is an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 1983 to support emerging singers during the crucial, often difficult years of transition from student to professional artist. Although the principals now perform in leading opera houses worldwide, they are returning to LA for this production to say “thank you” for the support they received early in their careers. They also hope to help the Buffs — the only organization of its kind in the nation not attached to a music school or company — raise funds to assist the upcoming generation of emerging young singers.
LOCATION: Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., LA 90012. Parking is available at Disney Concert Hall or in surrounding lots.
TICKETS: Tickets for “Carmen in Concert” and the gala reception with the artists afterward are $125. Visit https://www.operabuffs.org/newsite/carmen-tickets/ or call (323) 356-0047.
MORE INFORMATION: www.operabuffs.org