Military bases are better known for patriotic marching bands than tragic opera performances, but an unusual joint grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Department of Defense is bringing opera to military bases, including one in Kitsap County.

The Naval Undersea Museum at Keyport is the site for a performance of Peter Brook’s “The Tragedy of Carmen,” performed by members of the Seattle Opera’s Young Artists Program Oct. 27. The program is sponsored by Navy Region Northwest Community Support.

The adaptation of Bizet’s tale of the beautiful gypsy Carmen and her ill-fated lover Don José is an 80-minute “stripped down” version, suitable for the young traveling opera troupe. The shorter format may also be more palatable for novice opera-goers, as well as the fact that it’s sung in English.

Tenor Peter Kazaras, artistic director of the Young Artists program, said of the show, “the entire production needs to fit in a box that can be put in the trunk of a car.” That may be a bit dramatic, but the production does need to be compact enough to travel to sites throughout the state in an ambitious touring schedule.

Mary Dorsey, Navy Region Northwest Community Support’s regional marketing director, said this is the second year the military family support organization has brought the opera to the naval base. The success of last year’s performance of “Great American Voices” encouraged them to do it again.

“(The auditorium at the museum) seats 450 people and last year we may have had two empty seats,” she said. “The audience last year was mixed about half and half between active duty and military retirees and family members, and general public. We had a lot of younger people from church and school choir groups and bands. There were also van loads of folks from local retirement communities who came out and enjoyed the program.”

It’s also good exposure for the young opera performers, who are working on building their operatic portfolios and gaining stage confidence.

Performing the lead role of Carmen is mezzo-soprano Lucia Cervoni, a Canadian singer with a master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music. This is her second year in the Young Artist program, following last year’s performance as Mrs. Grose in Britten’s “Turn of the Screw.”

Tenor Noah Baetge, who plays Don José, is making his Young Artists debut, but he’s already appeared in a major Seattle Opera production. The Seattle native played the Animal Vendor in the 2006 season-opening Rosenkavalier. He made his opera debut in 2005 with the Skagit Opera and has performed with the Yakima Symphony and Tacoma Opera.

Playing Escamillo, the toreador whom Carmen falls for, is baritone David Lara. He completed a master’s degree in music this year at the University of Kansas and has performed with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and in the Merola Opera Program at San Francisco Opera.

Also performing are soprano Caitlin Lynch as Micaela, bass/baritone Joshua Jeremiah as Juniga/Garcia and soprano Anya Matanovic as Lilas Pastia.

Seattle Opera’s Young Artist program has been around since 1998, as a vehicle to help emerging professional opera singers boost their careers. Former Young Artists have gone on to perform on the Seattle Opera’s main stage and at opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala and the Royal Opera Covent Garden. The 12 performers are chosen from approximately 500 applicants.

“The Young Artists Program is all about training singers, and this show will be one that the singers really make happen for the audience,” Kazaras said in a Seattle Opera press release.

“The Tragedy of Carmen” begins with a reception at 6 p.m. Oct. 27, followed by the show at 7 p.m. at the Naval Undersea Museum, 1 Garnett Way, Keyport.

The program is also far more affordable than a full on performance. Tickets are $5 for military ID card holders, $10 general public, free ages 17 and under. Tickets are available at the Kitsap Mall information booth, the Naval Undersea Museum and Bangor or Bremerton ITT Resource Centers.