The Belleayre Festival Opera will present Bizet’s timeless masterpiece, “Carmen” on Satuday, July 27 at 8 p.m. Georges Bizet’s thrilling music drama of passion, betrayal and revenge comes to Belleayre in an all-new production by Belleayre Festival Opera Artistic Director Donald Westwood, director of fourteen previous main-stage operas at the Festival. Set in Spain in the 19th century, the production features a company of 50 performers and musicians, including soloists with national and international credits. Musical highlights include the world-famous “Toreador Song” and Carmen’s seductive “Habanera.” Productions by Donald Westwood have been called “exemplary” by The New York Times, “very special” by The New York Post and “a welcome addition to this city’s music” by New York magazine. Opera News magazine has recognized Donald Westwood’s productions as “a dynamic alternative to the giants at Lincoln Center.” “Carmen” will be performed in the original French with simultaneous translation via SuperTitles.
Tickets the Belleayre Festival Opera’s performance of “Carmen” are $76, $66, $56 and $26 for lawn seating.
Jazz Series & Comedy
Up next, the Catskill Mountain Jazz Series will span five extraordinary performances. On Thursday, Aug. 1, the series opens with the Sammy Figueroa Latin Dance Explosion in the Jazz Club. The phenonmenal Pedrito Martinez Havana Quartet
will light up the Jazz Club on Friday, Aug. 2. The Paquito D’Rivera and the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band performs on August 3. Keyboard wizard Bill Charlap will play the Jazz Club
with his trio on Friday, Aug. 9. Next up on Saturday, Aug. 10 is Kenny Barron’s All-Star Quintet.
It’s Broadway at Belleayre on Saturday, Aug. 17 when song-and-dance legend Ben Vereen takes the stage.
The festival presents Comedy in the Catskills II with Harrison Greenbaum performing
on Friday, Aug. 23. Veteran funny woman Rita Rudner headlines on Saturday, Aug. 24.
The season closes in theatrical rock style with The Music of Pink Floyd on Saturday, Aug. 31.
All shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for all shows are on sale via Ticketmaster. For additional information, please call 800 942-6904, ext. 1344, visit: belleayremusic.org
For information on where to stay, dine, shop or to simply enjoy the great outdoors when you¹re in town for the Belleayre Music Festival, please visit: www.catskillhighpeaks.com, www.ulstertourism.info or www.greatwesterncatskills.com.
Belleayre Music Festival concerts are held on the grounds of Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.
Belleayre Mountain is located in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountain region, and is operated by the Olmpic Regional Development Authority. The ski resort is located just off Route 28 and is 37 miles west of Thruway Exit 19 at Kingston; 55 miles southeast of Oneonta on Route 28; 40 miles from the Route 17 exit at Roscoe; and 95 miles southwest of Albany and just two hours north of NYC.
