In Conversation with
Carmen
Before rehearsals began we sat down with Helen Bruce to
talk about her role as Carmen.
So Helen, How have you prepared for the role of Carmen?
Luckily I have performed the role before so a lot of the groundwork - character, background etc has already been done. But with
Carmen, stamina is vital - she is on stage a lot! - so I have been
exercising and keeping healthy as well as singing through the role
every day. The prospect of wearing rather skimpy outfits is also a
good incentive to stay fit...
This is your second production with Winterbourne Opera but you
couldn’t be playing a more
different role....
The Marriage of Figaro 2012
True! Playing Cherubino was possibly the most fun I’ve had on
stage and it was such a great production. Going from comic, horny
teenage boy to the fiery seduction of Carmen is an interesting
transition; but I suppose what connects them is a fierce passion
and lust for life. They both fall in love constantly and are driven by
its power. So in a way, the roles are similar, but hopefully I will be
slightly more feminine as Carmen!
Winterbourne’s Carmen has a modern setting, how does this differ
The Marriage of Figaro 2012
from performing an opera in its traditional setting?
I have sung in several productions of Carmen and all of them were
traditional so this new take on it is an exciting prospect. The
biggest difference will be in making Carmen believable as a
modern woman. In some ways this makes it more challenging the audience will know if it isn’t right, you can’t just rely on ‘opera
acting’! It has to be real.
What’s most exciting and most terrifying about playing such an
iconic role?
The Marriage of Figaro 2012