Preceding the Saturday, September 27th performance of Carmen, your $20.00 per person donation to the Children’s Music Program includes. --> 

Call Kristin at the church office at 226-2426.

NURSERY BY RESERVATION ONLY!

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS SEPTEMBER 21st!

(Please note: you must purchase tickets to the performance separately from the San Antonio Opera.)

Saturday
September 27th
6PM

• * FREE PARKING in our secure St. Mark’s parking lot, where your car will be supervised for the entire evening. 
• *ELEGANT DINNER from 6-7pm in the new Parish Hall featuring a Carmen-inspired meal, beautifully prepared by our own Ruby Merrill. 
• *Air-conditioned SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION 7:10pm or 7:30pm to the door of Lila Cockrell Auditorium, and back to St. Mark’s Parking Lot after the performance.
  

Space is limited to 200 for this special event so reserve your place early!

Q: What sounds like an army, marches like a trumpet player, sings like angels, and gets to see Escamillo fight the bull?
A: The St. Mark’s Boy and Girl and Youth Choirs, performing in the September 2008 production of CARMEN with the San Antonio Opera.

Q: What is Carmen?
A: The opera by Georges Bizet that tells the story of the fiery Spanish gypsy girl, Carmen.  It’s got all your basic opera great stuff – fantastic music, orchestra, high notes, ballet, castanets, jilted lovers, mystery and intrigue, chorus of thousands, and a REAL BULLFIGHT at the end.  And, of course, it wouldn’t be an opera without the tragic death of the title character!

Q: What does that have to do with a children’s chorus?
A: Many operas feature children’s voices as part of the overall choral ensemble.  In Carmen Act I, the children get a song all to themselves making fun of the soldiers who are practically falling asleep on the job in the heat of the afternoon.  In Act IV, they also lead the way announcing the arrival of the different participants in the bullfight – picadors, matadors, and especially the bull fighter, Escamillo.

Q: Is this the opera with the famous Toreador Song?
A: Yep.

Q: How did all of this happen?
A: Ms. Roach received a call from the General Director of the opera company.  He had heard our CDs and worshipped at St. Mark’s and heard us sing.  He thought we sounded good and asked us to participate.

Q: When are the performances?
A: September 26-28, 2008 at the Lila Cockrell Theater.  For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact the San Antonio Opera at (210) 225-5972 or on their website at www.saopera.com.

Q: Who is participating from St. Mark's?
A: Participating in the opera chorus will be members of the 2008-2009 Boy and Girl and Youth Choirs.  Treble voices will sing and men with changed voices will serve as supernumeraries (non-singing actors).