Members of Syosset High School’s chamber chorus and orchestra were joined on stage in partnership with the International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI) for a special one-time performance of The Tragedy of Carmen, the popular opera by Georges Bizet.
Through the school’s fine and performing arts department and its 16-year opera partnership with the IVAI, the students performed an abridged version of the opera on Feb. 6. The IVAI is a program run through the Metropolitan Opera House that discovers and develops talented would-be opera professionals at a young age.
“This is perhaps our most advanced and significant joint endeavor,” said Michael Salzman, Syosset’s fine and performing arts coordinator. “The product was a true partnership between our school, students, and the talented artists at IVAI.”
Current members of the IVAI program performed solos, while Syosset student musicians made up the chorus and orchestra.
The conductor was Paul Nadler, who is currently in New York conducting four performances of The Merry Widow at the Metropolitan Opera. Maestro Nadler delayed his return home to Florida in order to direct the production of Carmen at Syosset.
Set in Spain, The Tragedy of Carmen is about a gypsy woman who suffers a terrible fate from a jilted lover. The Syosset Chamber Orchestra was directed by Stephanie Merten. The Syosset Chamber Singers were directed by Kristin Howell. Both Howell and Merten are music teachers at Syosset High School.
