Cameron in ‘Carmen’

Seduction, love, betrayal and murder are weighty themes for most 13-year-olds.

But not for Cameron Lee.

The Monroe eighth-grader is a nascent opera star. He’ll have his Seattle Opera debut Saturday in “Carmen,” George Bizet’s popular work set in Seville, Spain.

Cameron is one of 10 children selected to sing in the youth chorus.

Dressed in period costume, Cameron and the other kids make their appearance in the opera’s first act.

“It’s really fun,” Cameron said the other day. “It’s like being a little Spanish kid.”

He auditioned in August at the suggestion of his professional voice coach and has been rehearsing in Seattle since.

Part of the training is learning to understand and sing the French libretto.

Starting last week, Cameron got to share the stage with world-renowned opera singers, the grown-ups who sing the lead roles.

“They’ve always seemed to be pretty chill, pretty relaxed,” Cameron said.

And so does Cameron. He was poised and thoughtful during a phone interview last week.

“It’s really exciting because these songs are so old,” he said. “I feel honored to perform them today when they were written so long ago.”

He’s taking voice lessons to gain experience and become a better singer.

“I’ll know how to do it and feel confident with what I’m doing,” he said. “These lessons have been working.”

The opera was first performed in 1875 at the Paris Opera-Comique, where it bombed, said Jonathan Dean, a spokesman for the Seattle Opera.

“It was way too R-rated for this very family-friendly theater,” Dean said.

“Carmen” survived and thrives thanks to an engaging plot, wonderful songs and orchestral pieces. Carmen consistently brings in huge audiences and is considered a gem, emerging from the romantic tradition. The melodies are among the most recognized in the operatic repertoire.

Seattle Opera frequently has children in the productions, typically as supernumeraries, or extras.

“But they usually don’t sing,” Dean said. The last official youth chorus to perform was for Puccini’s “La Boheme” in 2007. “Carmen” last was produced in Seattle in 2004.

“We have two big kids’ chorus operas coming up next season, in operas that are not yet announced,” Dean said. Parents can contact Seattle Opera now to find out about the next round of auditions.

Laura Lee, Cameron’s mother, said music always has been a part of her children’s lives. Cameron has two older sisters and a younger brother.

The kids all are different, she said. She sees herself as more of a supporting cast member, driving Cameron to rehearsals and making sure he’s well fed.

She and the family are planning on attending a dress rehearsal of “Carmen” this week.

“It’s very exciting,” Laura Lee said. “Your kids will lead you down all sorts of paths, if you let them.”

In addition to opera, Cameron said he enjoys listening to many kinds of music. He likes musical theater, pop songs and music from the hit TV show, “Glee.”

For now, however, Cameron has been seduced by “Carmen.”

“I’ve always appreciated opera because it takes a lot of skill to sing like that,” he said. “Being in an opera, it’s really big.”

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3447; jholtz@heraldnet.com.

Seattle Opera’s “Carmen”

“Carmen” opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle. Evening performances continue Oct. 19, 21, 22, 26, 28 and 29. A matinee is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 23. Tickets are $25 to $230 and can be purchased at www.seattleopera.org or 800-426-1619.