The Watford Philharmonic Society’s concert performance of Bizet’s opera Carmen at the Watford Colosseum on Saturday, 15 th March, was a lively occasion. Bizet’s story of passion and betrayal was performed with emotion and expertise by the lead singers, the choir and the orchestra, successfully capturing the essence of the opera.

The role of the faithless and seductive Carmen was brilliantly performed by the noted Irish soprano, Dervla Ramsay. She was well supported by Philip Sheffield as her tormented lover, Don José, Jonathan Fisher as the dashing toreador, Escamillo, and Marianne Cotterill as Don José’s abandoned sweetheart, Michaela.

Dervla Ramsay - Carmen	Phillip Sheffield - Don José
Jonathan Fisher - Escamillo	Marianne Cotterill - Michaela

The evening opened with conductor, Terry Edwards, giving an introductory talk on Carmen. He then led the audience through three of the most well-known choruses, the Habanera, the Gypsy Song and the Toreador Song. During the performance the audience of nearly 700 people were given the opportunity of singing these with the choir, an invitation to which they enthusiastically responded.

This exciting new concept was the idea of Terry Edwards who successfully managed the event. With his strong background as Chorus Director at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he had directed similar concerts, he was able to bring many years’ experience in encouraging the audience to take an active part.

A rousing evening enjoyed by everyone and will hopefully be the first of many such opportunities for audience participation. Watford is fortunate in having such a wonderful concert hall, good to see it used to such effect by so many people.

Bizet’s story of passion and betrayal is one of our favourite operas but surprisingly, when it was first staged in 1874, it was not an immediate success. Today there are very few people who don’t recognise at least some of the music.

The lead role of Carmen will be sung by the noted Irish soprano, Dervla Ramsay, who in 1993 won the Ulster Bank Music Foundation Award which enabled her to continue her studies in Italy. While in Italy she sang with many companies including Teatro Communale in Florence and Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, where she sang La Cenerentola in a televised performance of opera extracts. Since 1999 she has been a member of the Royal Opera chorus, also playing many solo roles. Her tormented lover, Don José, will be sung by Philip Sheffield. Philip studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music before making his professional debut as a soloist with the Brussels Opera. The dashing toreador, Escamillo, will be sung by Jonathan Fisher. Jonathan studied at the Guildhall School of Music and at the Cologne Staatliche Hochschule with Franz Muller-Hauser. He is a member of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Don José’s abandoned sweetheart, Michaela, will be sung by Marianne Cotterill. Marianne was brought up in Denmark studying at Copenhagen University and the Royal College of Music. She established her operatic career in 1996 when her engagements included Adina, Mimi, Belinda (Dido and Aeneas) and the premieres of many contemporary roles both here and internationally. In 2004 she joined the Royal Opera chorus making her debut in Turandot.

Terry Edwards, conductor, will open the evening by giving an introductory talk on Carmen. He will lead the audience through three of the most well-known choruses, the Habanera, the Gypsy Song and the Toreador Song and during the performance they will have the opportunity of singing these with the choir. Word sheets will be provided for everybody.

Terry Edwards has a strong background in choral work, having been Chorus Director at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, for twelve years and he will bring the full wealth of his experience to encourage the audience to participate in this concert performance of Carmen.