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The legendary opera singer brings her directorial vision to Martin Marietta.
Captivating an audience with opera for 45+ years is a feat in its own right, and turning around and teaching a new generation of performers to yield the same captivating qualities is another accolade entirely. But for opera singer Denyce Graves, it’s light work.
The mezzo-soprano’s voice has graced the world’s most esteemed opera houses and concert halls across four decades. In addition to her extensive discography, Graves has also appeared on TV shows across genres, from Sesame Street to Great Performances. Now, the legend is lending her directorial vision to NC Opera’s fall performance of Carmen at Martin Marietta.
There couldn’t be a more perfect singer for the job—Graves was the defining Carmen of her generation, says NC Opera Marketing Director Angela Grant. The opera follows a femme fatale who pulls a soldier into her orbit, which spirals into jealousy, betrayal and tragedy.
Graves’ latest role comes after she transitioned from the spotlight to behind the scenes in 2021 with her directorial debut at the Minnesota Opera.
“I knew it was about time for me to really transition out of performing,” Graves tells RM. “I’ve done that for a while, and I had a wonderful time doing that, but I’d like to do other things, too, with the life that I have.”
The director of the Minnesota Opera reached out to Graves and asked her to direct Carmen in light of all her performances as the leading lady. “I said, ‘Let me think about it,’” reminisces Graves. “I called him back and said I would love to do it. It was the perfect segue to transition out of singing and into directing.”
Despite the perfect segue, it wasn’t an easy transition—Graves maintained getting others to “recognize her wearing a different hat” proved difficult. “One of the larger ones is getting people to recognize me as a director and not as a singer, and getting people to feel comfortable with my being in this new role,” she adds.
Being a person who usually flies “by the seat of her pants,” Graves says she has to prepare things more thoroughly to respect others’ time—and overall, there are a lot more things to prepare, from staging to lighting to costumes and everything in between. While looking at the story as a singer can be very myopic, directors must see the whole vision, Graves tells RM.
Take in the final performance at Martin Marietta as Graves’ production of Carmen takes the stage Oct. 16 and 18. ncopera.org
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