The Online Citizen A Community of Singaporeans 
Bizet’s Carmen, the classic opera that has endured the test of time and moved audiences around the world will be imbued with new energy this August by Singapore’s flagship company for Western opera, Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO).
This year, SLO celebrates local talent by announcing a mainly Singaporean cast who will work with SLO Chorus, SLO Children’s Choir, dancers, supers and orchestral musicians to bring the story of Carmen to life.
The dynamic cast, who are mostly Singaporeans or trained locally, will take the stage with their vocal prowess that they have been honing for years. Some of these artists are graduates of local institutions such as the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), or left Singapore shores to study abroad to later return home for their professional careers and to contribute to the local arts scene.
Ms Nancy Yuen, Artistic Director, Singapore Lyric Opera, and Opera Director for Bizet’s Carmen, shares, “We are placing notable local talents in the spotlight with leading roles in Carmen this year. The audience will be able to witness their passion, dedication and hard work on stage. I am excited to see how these performers will bring their artistry and diverse experiences to their roles.”
In a much-anticipated pairing as onstage love rivals, Jonathan Charles Tay will be making his role debut as Don José opposite SLO regular Martin Ng as Escamillo. The pair will be fighting for the affections of Carmen who will be played by rising Taiwanese star JoPei Weng who was featured in one of the lead roles in Verdi’s Aida by SLO last year.
Another Singaporean, Janani Sridhar, will return from the United States after years abroad to join the cast as Micaela, the country girl who’s in love with the honest corporal, Don José.
Exciting new faces include Joyce Lee Tung and Dennis Lau from SLO’s highlyselective Leow Siak Fah Artists Training Programme who will be making their professional stage debut in a full-length opera production with Bizet’s Carmen. SLO will also be featuring two young musicians, Maggie Lu Pei Yun from Taiwan and Fang Zhi from China, both who trained at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.
Rounding up the main cast are established local singers, Kane Teo as Remendado and Alvin Tan who will take on dual roles as El Dancairo and Morales. Prominent Singaporean conductor and recipient of National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award Joshua Tan will helm the 70-strong orchestra to accompany the performers in three rousing nights of classical opera.
Get a taste of opera in the heartlands as SLO makes a special appearance at the Festive Arts Theatre at Our Tampines Hub on 24 August 2019, Saturday, at 7.30pm for Opera 101: An Introduction to Bizet’s Carmen. Redeem a pair of tickets at Our Tampines Hub’s Information Counter or Public Service centre a month before the performance date (while stocks last).
Tickets for Bizet’s Carmen are available at all SISTIC agents, SISTIC hotline at +65 6348 5555 and SISTIC website.