JACKSON —The Mississippi Opera, the nation’s ninth oldest continuously operating opera company, now celebrating its 70th year of operatic excellence in Mississippi, completes its 2015-16 season with “Carmen,” starring Kirstin Chavez and Richard Troxell.

    “We are so excited about rounding out our wonderful 70th anniversary season with a perennial audience favorite: Bizet’s ‘Carmen,’ starring stellar artisans Kirstin Chavez as Carmen and Richard Troxell as Don Jose,our first production in the newly renovated Thalia Mara Hall, set for April 23,” said Mississippi Opera Artistic Director Jay Dean.

    Opera News reported that as Carmen in Graz, Austria, Kirstin Chavez was “the Carmen of a lifetime. With her dark, generous mezzo, earthy eroticism, volcanic spontaneity and smoldering charisma, Chavez has it all, including a superb command of French and a sense of humor.”Winnipeg Free Press adds, “Chavez doesn’t just play Carmen — she is Carmen!”

    Chavez said she looks forward to her upcoming visit to play this iconic role for Mississippi Opera.

    “Jay’s Midas touch turns another Mississippi Institution to gold and I am so looking forward to bringing our Carmen to Mississippi Opera for its 70th anniversary season!” Chavez said. “We plan to set Mississippi on the fast track, from a cool spring to a sizzling summer with our sensually dazzling story of Love, Life and Liberty!”

    Regarding Richard Troxell (Don Jose), Opera News commented, “Troxell is a fine actor…a fine top D with diminuendo showed that he is no technical slouch.” The Boston Phoenix described him as “a dashing presence, a matinee idol with a big ringing voice.”

    Troxell said he is excited about working with Chavez, Jay Dean and the Mississippi Opera Company.

    “When I sing Carmen with Kirstin, it transcends performing and becomes a moment in life,” Troxell said. “The passion, the joy, the intensity, sometimes even scares us. This being my first time in Mississippi, I look forward to sharing such a great experience with this wonderful audience. (You have been warned!).”      

    Mississippi Opera opened its 70th season with Cavalleria Rusticana on Nov. 21, 2015, at Belhaven University Center for the Arts.

    “This was our very first production in 1945,” Dean said. “The first part of this 70th Anniversary Gala was a retrospective on Mississippi Opera’s history since 1945 (researched and written by longtime Mississippi Opera patron Dick Wilson) and narrated by Belhaven University President Dr. Roger Parrott.”     

    The second annual Voices of Mississippi Competition Winners Concert was held Oct. 10 at the Belhaven University Center for the Arts.

    “This outstanding concert featured some of Mississippi’s very best singers,” Dean said. “The annual competition is an excellent way for the Mississippi Opera to discover new voices and expand our talent base for roles in upcoming productions.”

    Mississippi Opera’s increasing popular Cabarets at Duling Hall included Belhaven on Broadway in October, Night at the Tonys in January, A New York State of Mind in February and Simply Sondheim in March at historic Fondren’s Duling Hall.

    “These cabaret style venues are light, fun, musical theatre programs featuring an outstanding array of local and visiting talent,” said Executive Director Tippy Garner.

    Mississippi Opera’s holiday classic “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” directed by Dr. Ed Dacus, returned to the Madison Center for the Arts in December.       

     For more information about Mississippi Opera’s 70th Anniversary Season, please call 601-960-2300 or visit www.msopera.org.