Boston Lyric Opera presents free show

This weekend, college students will participate in inexpensive activities, like frat parties and the opera.

Yeah, the opera.

This Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 7:00 p.m., the Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) will present the first fully-staged opera on the Boston Common with Georges Bizet's Carmen on the Common, one of the world's most popular and well-known operas. Performed entirely in English, the show will be open, at no charge whatsoever, to the public.

Like many great operas, Carmen is a story of desperation in true love. Carmen, a local factory worker in Spain, is accused of wounding a fellow coworker with a knife. To free herself, she woos Don Jose, an army corporal engaged to Mica?la. As a result of setting Carmen free, Don Jose is sent to prison.

Upon his release a month later, he informs Carmen that he can not stay with her, but instead return to the barracks. When a fight ensues between himself and his superior Lieutenant Zuniga, he is forced to abandon the army and join up with a group of smugglers. All the while, the infamous bullfighter Escamillo seeks in vain to win the affections of the beautiful Carmen.

While carrying out a delivery of stolen goods with the smugglers, Don Jose and Escamillo battle over the affections of Carmen. When the battle dies down, Mica?la discovers her fianc?©e and brings word that his mother is dying. Carmen urges him to leave at once and tend to her, as he promises that they will meet again. The opera concludes at Escamillo's latest bullfight, where Carmen has agreed to be his escort. Don Jose arrives and pleads with Carmen to begin a new life with him. She refuses, and throws away the ring he had given her. Consumed by a jealous rage, Don Jose murders his love.

Carmen on the Common, conducted by BLO Music Director Stephen Lord and under the direction of Leon Major, the company's artistic director, is a new multi-media production. Producers at the BLO chose Carmen not solely on the basis of its popularity and its familiarity amongst audiences of all ages, but because of its culturally diverse casting. They feel it reflects the rich variety of cultures in the Boston area ranging from Irish and Italian to Brazilian and Dominican.

The cast list itself, which includes names like Jossie P?©rez (Carmen), Guiping Deng (Mica?la), and Robert Honeysucker (Escamillo), is reflective of this important component to the opera.

In addition to marking the company's grand finale to its 25th anniversary season, this landmark production represents the culmination of the BLO's initiative to introduce opera to broader audiences. Over the summer, the company produced more than 40 education and preview programs in almost every Boston neighborhood, accompanied by "Welcome to Opera Guides" in six languages.

Founded in 1976, Boston Lyric Opera is North America's fastest-growing opera company, recognized for its commitment to debuts featuring some of the world's most exciting young singers, conductors, directors, and designers. For more information on "Carmen on the Common", more upcoming programs, or the BLO itself, call (617) 542-6772 or visit www.blo.org