CCM's Opera Series presents Poulenc’s harrowing 'Dialogues of the Carmelites'
Based on a true story, the revered opera runs Nov. 18-20 in Corbett Auditorium
Event Information (passed)
Story by CCM Graduate Student Lucy Evans
The UC College-Conservatory of Music opens its 2022-23 Opera Series with Francis Poulenc’s 1953 masterpiece, Dialogues of the Carmelites. One of the most revered operas of the 20th-century, this profound drama runs November 18-20 in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium. Guest artist Christopher Larkin conducts with stage direction by CCM Professor Robin Guarino. Tickets are on sale now through the CCM Box Office.
Based on the true story of the Martyrs of Compiègne, the opera follows the fictional aristocrat Blanche de la Force as she seeks refuge and purpose in a Carmelite convent during the French Revolution. However, the political tumult outside the cloistered community proves unavoidable, and Blanche and the other Carmelites are forced to grapple with their faith in the face of persecution and death.
The libretto, adapted from a play by Georges Bernanos, is structured in a series of 12 scenes. Rather than following a traditional sequence of arias and ensembles, the characters converse with one another in melodies and rhythms which are at once lyrical and speech-like. This approach highlights the hauntingly beautiful choral sections, in which the voices of the convent evoke religious hymns and chants.
Though framed within a highly dramatic scenario, the music and libretto work together to tell the harrowing story in a deeply human way. Within Poulenc’s distinct musical language, the characters wrestle with complex psychological and philosophical ideas: faith, duty, grace, and ultimately, martyrdom.
Dialogues of the Carmelites' estimated runtime is three hours and 6 minutes with an intermission. The opera will be sung in French with English supertitles.
Preview Photos
All photography by Mark Lyons. View complete cast and crew credits here.
Tickets for Dialogues of the Carmelites can be purchased online through CCM’s box office, over the phone at 513-556-4183 or in person at the CCM Box Office in the atrium of UC’s Corbett Center for the Performing Arts.
Dialogues of the Carmelites
Music and Libretto by Frances Poulenc
Libretto by Emmet Lavery
- Conductor | Christopher Larkin
- Director | Robin Guarino
- Scenic Designer | Mark Halpin
- Lighting Designer | Alaina Pizzoferrato
- Costume Designer | Iris Harmon
- Sound Designer | Alena Milos
- Production Stage Manager | Rosie Burns Pavlik
- Props Manager | Amber Slater
- Marquis de la Force | Erik Nordstrom
- Chevalier de la Force | Aaron McKone *, Manfred Anaya ^
- Blanche de la Force | Gabrielle Turgeon *, Malone Blaich ^
- Thierry | Patrick Kelly
- Madame de Croissy | Kendra Beasley *, Salleigh Harvey ^
- Sister Constance of St. Denis | Candace Williams *, Ashlyn Rock ^
- Mother Marie of the Incarnation | Tess Klibanoff *, Ariana Maubach ^
- Monsieur Javelinot | Joseph O’Shea
- Madame Lidoine | Felicity Tomkins *, Saane Halaholo ^
- Mother Jeanne of the Child Jesus | Isabel Lee
- Sister Mathilde | Rachael Bell
- Chaplain of the Convent | Logan Wagner *, Alex Gushrowski ^
- First Commissioner | Tristan Tournaud *, Carlos Ahrens ^
- Second Commissioner | John Potvin
- Officer | Will Ryan
- Jailer | Nathan Schludecker
- Mother Gerald | Hyein Hong
- Sister Claire | Jaeyoon Choi
- Sister Antoine | Natalia Adame
- Sister Catherine | Lauryn Davis
- Sister Felicity | Maren Hrivnak
- Sister Gertrude | Junyue Gong
- Sister Alice | Grace Graham
- Sister Valentine | Ahhyun Baek
- Sister Anne of the Cross | Olivia Knutsen
- Sister Martha | Sarah Scofield
- Sister St. Charles | Holly Thiemann
- Chorus of Citizens and Officers | Lauren Albano, Henry Benson, Zachary Burnham, Reed Demangone, Ryan Henry, Rachel Kobernick, Emma Marhefka, Maya McGuire, Lea Nayak, Erik Nordstrom, Joseph O’Shea, Su Hyeon Park, John Potvin, Jadyn Riggs, Nathan Schludecker, Grant Shields, Nia Spaulding, Emilio Vasquez
* Thursday/Saturday Performances
^ Friday Performance
Performance Times
- 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18
- 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19
- 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20
Location
Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets are $35.50-$39.50; student and group discounts available. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online.
Learn about additional ticket options for current CCM students.
Directions and Parking
CCM is located on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. For detailed driving directions, visit ccm.uc.edu/directions.
Parking is available in UC's CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus.
CCM OnStage patrons can add pre-paid parking to their checkout carts when purchasing tickets. Pre-paid parking is date/performance specific. CCM Garage parking rates for a performance or special event is usually available for $10-15. Learn more about parking at UC's CCM Garage.
For additional information on parking at UC, please visit uc.edu/about/parking.
- Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust
- Scholarship and Resident Artist Supporter
- The Corbett Endowment at CCM
- Dance Department Supporter
- All-Steinway School Supporter
- William L. Gasch Endowment Fund for Dance Excellence
- CCM Dance Department Supporter
-
J. Brett Offenberger, MD and Mr. Douglas E. Duckett
Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer
Greg Mathein
Jim & Linda Miller
George & Caroll Roden - Ken and Toni Kanter
- Musical Theatre Department Supporters
-
GLP German Light Products
Upstaging, Inc. - Theater Design & Production Supporter
- The Estate of Genevieve Smith
- Opera Production Supporter
- Rafael and Kimberly de Acha
- Opera D’Arte Supporter
- The Friedlander Family
- Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth
- Judith Schonbach Landgren and Peter Landgren
- Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen
- Elizabeth C.B. Sittenfeld
- Elizabeth Stone
- Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman
- Mrs. Theodore W. Striker
- Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer
- Ariel Quartet Supporters
-
The Friedlander Family
Karl Zipser - Chamber Music at CCM
- Jan Rogers
- Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation
- Choral Studies Supporters
- Anonymous
- Classical Guitar Supporter
- Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Hirschhorn
- Philharmonia Supporters
- Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation
- Starling Pre-Collegiate Supporter
- Starling Strings Supporter
- Dr. Timothy E. and Janet L. Johnson
- Thom Miles and Roberta Gary
- Strader Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
- Organ Department Supporters
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Keyboard Club of Cincinnati
L. Ried Schott - Piano Department Supporters
- Kevin and Nancy Rhein
- Wind Studies Supporters
- Willis Music/ Buddy Rogers Music
- LINKS Instrument Donation Supporter
Sponsors listed as of August 15, 2025
Lucy Evans
CCM Graduate Assistant, Marketing + Communications
Lucy Evans is an artist diploma student studying Opera-Vocal Performance at CCM. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, and was recently an Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera.
A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio. All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, visit ccm.uc.edu/onstage.
Featured image at the top: A promotional image for CCM's production of Dialogues of the Carmelites.
Tags
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