Seattle Opera Presents Carmen
Closing Seattle Operas 2018/19 season with the stunning, impressive, iconic and irresistible Carmen. It is officially the highest grossing show Seattle Opera has ever done in its 56 year history.
Since the launch of Seattle Opera’s new brand identity in the 2015/16 season, it centers on hero imagery with a limited color palette. Taking focus on Carmen’s iconic red dress was paramount for the design direction of the campaign. Capturing the essence of Carmen through her facial expression and movement as well as the bright and bold colors referencing the Spanish settings.
Client
Seattle Opera
Lead Designer
Trevor Giove
Hero Photography
Philip Newton
Because of its setting in Spain, Carmen might not seems like an “Orientalist” opera at first glance. But in these Seattle Opera lobby displays, viewers were able to dig deeper into the French “Orientalist” origins of Carmen, and learn more about this opera’s relationship with race, colonialism, and how portrayals of the “exotic femme fatale” impact Women of Color today. Presented in a gallery-style format, these lobby displays allowed patrons to gain insights and a deeper understanding pre-show and during intermission.
Lobby Displays created in collaboration with writer Gabrielle Nomura Gainor