Opera Carolina is marking its 70th season in a number of ways – honoring strong female characters, welcoming a new executive director (Beth Hansen) and commissioning a brew specifically for “The She Season.” Opera Carolina staffers, together with the woman-owned Bold Missy Brewery, developed “Carmen Get It!,” a brew inspired by the gutsy heroine of Carmen.
Carli Smith, Bold Missy’s brewmaster, collaborated with Megan Miller, Opera Carolina marketing director, to create a beer that honors a season built on the power of strong women in opera. “There’s a new women’s revolution happening now,” Miller said. “It just so happened that all the operas we chose this season feature fierce, strong and independent women. It made sense to package these offerings under ‘The She Season’ umbrella.”
The cinnamon brown ale is brewed with a variety of English roasted malts to create a brew with hints of nuts, chocolate and oats. Mellow hop additions balance out the sweetness from the malt. All-natural cinnamon is added after fermentation for a spicy kick.
“It’s big and fiery,” said Lybbi Roth, tap room manager and “hype woman” for the brewery. “We were inspired by the larger-than-life Carmen and her story of living life boldly and on her own terms.”
“This ale may have been inspired by an iconic female character,” added Roth. “But it’s far from a ‘girlie’ beer. It’s gender-neutral.”
Carmen Get It! will be available at the Blumenthal during the three performances of Carmen as well as at Bold Missy in NoDa – while supplies last – at 610 Anderson St. Learn more at boldmissybrewery.com.
The 70th season (and its heroines):
- In Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment, Marie is a spirited young woman who was orphaned as an infant and improbably raised by a French army regiment. Unaware of her aristocratic lineage, she’s fallen for a handsome peasant and forced to decide between love and social status. Nov. 10, 15, 18.
- Carmen, an opera in four acts by Georges Bizet. Carmen drinks, smokes and gets what she wants. But her gypsy spirit will ultimately prove her undoing. When she chooses bullfighter Escamillo over Don Jose, she meets her demise. Yet she’s not tragic. She would rather live fully than play it safe. Even in death, Carmen is a feminist heroine. Jan. 19, 20, 24.
- In Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Beautiful, educated Tatyana (Melinda Whittington) is rejected when she declares her love for Eugene, a rich playboy. Soon after, he kills his best friend in a duel. Years later, Eugene returns from self-imposed exile to discover Tatyana married to a prince. He realizes – too late – his love for her. April 15, 19 and 21.
Single tickets, beginning at $21, are available at www.operacarolina.org.
Founded in 1948 by the Charlotte Music Club as a small group of volunteers, today Opera Carolina is the largest professional opera company in the Carolinas with an operating budget of more than $3.2 million for the fiscal year 2019. The mission of Opera Carolina is to inspire the region’s diverse community through the presentation of opera and educational programs that elevate the quality of life in the Carolinas. Opera Carolina has a commitment to artistic excellence and community service.
