Carmen: A Performance Guide (Vox Music Ae Series, 4)

Mary Dibbern, Music Director of Education and Family Programs at The Dallas Opera, and adjunct faculty member at the University of North Texas has created a Performance Guide for Bizet's opera "Carmen." This contribution to the Vox Musicae series presents a word-by-word translation and IPA transcription of the French libretto, and her translations of its literary sources trace the opera libretto's development from Prosper Mérimée's short novel, "Carmen," as well as excerpts from Mérimée's "The Story of Rondino," and "Spanish Letters." Musicologist Lesley A. Wright has contributed an essay concerning the performing editions of "Carmen." This well-rounded volume is designed for use by singers, vocal coaches, conductors, producers and directors, as well as opera-lovers.

Mary Dibbern joined The Dallas Opera as Music Director for Education and Family
Programming in June 2012. She is an adjunct faculty member of the University of North
Texas, where she teaches French Diction for singers. She is an internationally known
specialist in the field of vocal coaching and recital accompaniment, with appearances in
Europe, the United States and Asia. Dibbern was graduated summa cum laude from
SMU with a Master of Music in accompaniment under the direction of Maestro Paul
Vellucci. She resided in France from 1978 to 2009, where she studied with Nadia
Boulanger and Pierre Bernac and was guest coach for the Opéra National de Paris, and
all of the major French opera companies. She also worked in Switzerland, Portugal,
Lithuania, Latvia, and in Shanghai where she was in charge of musical and language
preparation for the first French-language productions. In the US, she was guest coach at
Seattle Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Kentucky Opera, Opera Memphis
and Hawai'i Opera Theatre. She was Head of Music at Minnesota Opera for three
seasons, where she collaborated closely with composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark
Campbell on their world premiere "Silent Night" which subsequently won the Pulitzer
Price for Music 2012. Mary Dibbern is the author of seven books on French music
published by Pendragon Press and is the Editorial Consultant for Musik Fabrik's
publications of works by French composer Jacques Leguerney She is a recording artist
for Harmonia Mundi France, Claves and Maguelone.