Washington DC Adult Entertainment: Alex Souvorov/Bel Cantanti Opera
Written on March 10, 2010 – 8:01 am | by larrylibido
While Kim’s powerful voice made Don José a perfect fit, Park worried that the character of Carmen was against her “nature. Growing up in South Korea, we are taught to be obedient and to serve,” she says with a sly laugh.
Once she became immersed in the character, however, she recalls feeling “Carmen’s freedom and sense of liberty. It was kind of nice being feisty, strong and beautiful.”
Souvorova has some very practical reasons for choosing “Carmen.” “With opera companies closing all the time,” she wanted to do “Carmen” because it is “familiar and people love it.”
Even individuals who have never been to an opera will be familiar with “Habanera” and “Escamillo,” often used in movies and even commercials.
And while Carmen’s story may seem tame by 21st century standards, “Carmen” was scandalous when it premiered at a family-friendly theater in Paris in 1875. Opera-goers were accustomed to hearing the stories of mythical figures or royalty, “not real people, including smugglers, prostitutes and the poor,” Souvorova points out.