Edmonton Opera recently received feedback from a concerned patron, noting we had missed an opportunity to contribute to important conversations happening in our communities related to violence against women. Our 2023 production of Carmen, which opened our 60th season, contains scenes of violence, including against women. We did not publicly address this difficult and troubling theme and we should have.
Many have written about this issue within opera generally, and in relation to Carmen specifically. In a 2022 blog posted by San Francisco Opera, SUNY professor of music Monica Hershberger mused, “I wonder if part of the reason that these canonical operas and most performed operas tend to be these works that feature sexual violence is potentially because we’re still grappling with it”.
What Hershberger says rings true. We are still grappling with the issue of violence against women, hundreds of years after these operas were written.
Carmen 2023 | Photo by Nanc Price
The question of how to address violence against women and other difficult issues is a conversation that is ongoing. Edmonton Opera, like all arts companies, makes conscious choices related to how or whether to stage works that include challenging themes, including how to address these when they’re present. Like all communities, there is rarely consensus within the arts related to decisions and approaches. What is heartening is that all agree on the importance of dialogue and the need to somehow address these issues.
In relation to Edmonton Opera’s recent production of Carmen, the issue of violence against women was addressed behind the scenes through the rehearsal process with the cast, including using fight and intimacy director Janine Waddell who provides guidance on how to appropriately stage such things – to address both psychological and physical safety.
At the same time, it is important to illuminate this issue beyond the rehearsal process, as our patron gently reminded us. In so doing we can shine a light on the ongoing reality of violence against women and point those in need to resources and support. As we look forward in our season, we are considering how to best to address violence against women and other challenging issues, for example through providing messaging prior to performances, information in the program, opportunities for dialogue, and/or access to resources.
We are grateful for those within our communities who are working to address violence against women, and we appreciate the patron who took the time to remind us of our responsibility to acknowledge this important issue.
If you or someone you know is a victim of violence, help is available.
To report domestic violence, call 911 (in an emergency) or the Edmonton Police non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 (#377 from a mobile device in the Edmonton area).
To talk confidentially with a social worker: Call 211 and ask to be connected with a social worker for domestic violence.
For information on resources in Edmonton and across the province call 310-1818 (toll free) Family Violence Info Line. Help is available in 170 languages, 24/7. Call to find out what support is available in your community.
If you have been the victim of domestic violence and you require support, you can contact the Crime and Trauma-Informed Support Services at 780-421-2217.