News

Keeping up with Carmen Jones

Voices from the Valleys will be providing a Carmen influence at the National Botanic Garden of Wales on Saturday April 2.

TSP Voices Community Choir is made up of families from Torfaen and they have rewritten their favourite pieces from Bizet’s Carmen for their new production: Carmen Jones from Trevethin.

Carmarthen-based singer songwriter Cheryl Beer is helping the families – from Trevethin, St Cadoc’s and Penygarn estates – and explains how the project came about: “I was contracted to set up a family-based singing group two years ago. The aim was that they would be supported to write and perform songs about their life experiences.”

Cheryl says the group were lucky enough to see the Welsh National Opera’s production of Carmen at the Millennium Centre and, with the aid of a Home Coming Grant, the families have created their very own opera basing the storyline and the characters from their own community.

“In this version, Carmen isn’t a cigarette factory worker in Seville; she works in Trevethin Spa – and lives in a caravan on the top of Trevethin Hill. In fact, all the storylines and characters have been reinvented to fit into Valleys life.

“We are all really thrilled to be bringing their musical creations to the National Botanic Garden.”

The choir will be presenting their Highlights of Carmen Jones of Trevethin at 1pm on Saturday April 2 in the Great Glasshouse and all are welcome.

For more information, go to www.gardenofwales.org.uk or call 01558 667149.

* TSP Voices Community Choir is funded by Communities First, Family Link and Head for Arts.