
UNM Department of Music Students, Faculty & Alumni sweep cast of Opera Southwest Production of Carmen in Spanish
Current students, faculty and alumni of The Department of Music at UNM have filled the cast of the upcoming Opera Southwest production of Carmen, one of the most famous operas of all time. The performance will be presented in Spanish, referencing a translation by Eduardo de Bray which originated in 1904 from a Barcelona zarzuela company. Guests can enjoy performances at The National Hispanic Cultural Center and at the Albuquerque Journal Theatre between May 4 – 12, 2024.
Carmen, created by French composer Georges Bizet originally premiered on March 3, 1875. In the sultry heat of Seville, Carmen bewitches all who cross her path – even Corporal Don José. He soon falls under her beguiling spell, abandoning his life in the military. A fiery love triangle ignites as the famed bullfighter Escamillo vies for Carmen’s affections. Micaëla, Don José’s childhood sweetheart, strives to win him back, but destiny’s die is cast.
Be swept away this spring at Opera Southwest by Carmen’s irresistible allure, Don José’s smoldering obsession, and the explosive clash of desire and destiny.
CAST
Carmen / Olga Perez Flora (May 4, 11) UNM Dept. of Music Assistant Professor of Voice and Head of Voice, Eliza Bonet (May 5, 8, 10, 12),
Don Jose / James Flora (May 4, 11) UNM Dept. of Music Lecturer in Voice & Opera, Isaac Hurtado (May 5, 8, 10, 12),
Escamillo / Octavio Moreno
Micaela / Cecilia Violetta Lopez
Dancairo / Javier Ortiz, UNM Alumnus 2011, BM Vocal Performance
Remendado / Angel Vargas
Zuniga / Santiago Meza
Morales / Michael Hix, Department Chair of UNM Dept. of Music & Associate Professor of Voice
Mercedes / Denise Wernly
Frasquita / Ingela Onstad, UNM Alumna 2014, BM Vocal Performance
Chorus:
Amanda Porter, current UNM CFA student 2025
Nadine Adisho, current UNM CFA student 2025
Joseph Harb, current UNM CFA student 2024
Lore Hazard, UNM Alumnus 2023, MM
Jenni Hipolito, UNM Alumna 2011, BM Vocal Performance
Ashley Saenz, UNM Alumna 2011, BM Vocal Performance
Theresa Sanderson, UNM Alumna 2011, BM Vocal Performance
For tickets and more information, please visit: https://www.operasouthwest.org/operas/carmen
MFA Photography Alumni, Anna Rotty and Brianna Tadeo, Selected for “FORECAST 2025” at SF Camerawork
The Department of Art is thrilled to congratulate MFA Photography alumni Anna Rotty and Brianna Tadeo on the selection of their work for “FORECAST 2025” at SF Camerawork!
What the land knows: the Radical Art ▽ Ecology Lab (RAVEL) in and around Los Alamos
The UNM Department of Art’s RAVEL Lab was featured in a recent e-flux journal article by Brian Karl. Published on June 13, 2025, as part of e-flux Education’s mid-June focus on U.S. institutions across the South and Southwest, the feature spotlights the RAVEL Lab within Art & Ecology program at The University of New Mexico.
Covington-Rhode Senior Prize Winners: Viola Murphy and Josiah Garza
The UNM Department of Art is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Covington-Rhode Senior Prize.