Opera Carmen

Opera Carmen

NCPA's Production of Bizet's Opera Carmen

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Opera House

Dates: Feb. 21, 2013-Feb. 24, 2013

Duration: approximate 170 mins (intermission included)

Price: VIP/680/600/550/450/280/220/160 RMB

About

Composer: Georges Bizet

Script: Henri Meilhac, Ludovic Halévy

Author: Prosper Mérimée

Conductor: Chen Zuohuang

Director: Francesca Zambello

Piano Coach: Stefano Conticello

Stage Designer: Peter J. Davison

Lighting Designer: Benjamin Pearcy

Costume Designer: Susan Wilmington

Revival Director/Choreography: Duncan Macfarland

Orchestra: China NCPA Orchestra

Chorus: NCPA Chorus

Originated from the novel by Prosper Mérimée, the opera Carmen was completed in the autumn of 1874. It was the last work of Georges Bizet, and also is the most popular opera on the stage in the world until now. Bizet, through his music, told us a tragic story behind brightness, and depicted the optimistic, straightforward but wild personality of a Gipsy girl, Carmen. The opera discloses the bald-faced passions, describes the eternal confrontation between men and women, shows the ruthless but beautiful life, and proves the perpetual co-existence between love and death.

In this opera, Bizet managed to create vivid dramatic melodies with Spanish elements. Some excerpts such as Habanera, Les Toreadors and the Prelude have been highly cherished by many artists and performed again and again in the past century.

Synopsis

Act I

The story begins at a plaza of Seville. Don José's fiancée Micaela goes to the posse to visit Don José, but fails to find him. At the noon break, a Gypsy girl Carmen, together with her fellow women workers of a tobacco factory, gather in the plaza. The adorable Carmen refuses all her admirers, except Don José, a young man working with the weapons at the corner. Carmen throws a flower at his face, and then slips away by the help of other girls. After the noon break, Don José picks up the flower secretly. Afterwards, Micaela and Don José meet and say sweet words, and Micaela hands a home letter to Don José. Suddenly, a riot happens at the tobacco factory - Carmen and another factory girl have a quarrel, and Carmen injures the girl with a dagger. Carmen is thrown into prison accordingly, yet she refuses to repent. Trying her best, Carmen succeeds in teasing Don José who takes charge of her. Under Don Jose's help, Carmen escapes, but Don José is demoted and detained as a consequence.

Act II

In a small pub near the old ramparts in Seville, Carmen, her girlfriends, military officers and gypsies are drinking in high spirits. Afterwards, a matador Escamillo drops at the pub and courts Carmen, but she doesn't nod. Two smugglers try to rope in Carmen into a smuggling trade after Escamillo leaves, yet Carmen rejects as she is waiting for Don José. At this moment, Carmen hears the singing of Don José, and she accompanies with the castanet dance. Finally, Don José expresses his deep love for her. Because Don José is deprived of his position as a dragoon, he has to do smuggling with Carmen in mountains.

Act III

Don Jose, Carmen and other smugglers have lived in mountains for many days, and Don José becomes regretful when he thinks of his mother and Micaela. The young man bursts out quarreling with Carmen, and the furious eyes of Don José make Carmen realize that she may be killed by this man someday. Then, Micaela, who still loves Don José, risks her life to find Don José, telling his mother is very sick. At the same time, the matador Escamillo also comes to look for Carmen, but happens to come across Don Jose standing sentry. Knowing his intention, Don José is overwhelmed by jealousy and decides to kill him. However, his attempt is stopped by Carmen. Disappointed by Carmen and concerned about his mother, Don José returned home with Micaela.

Act IV

At the plaza in front of the bullfighting arena of Seville, spectators and peddlers go back and forth. Escamillo enters the arena, leaving Carmen outside. Then, Don José in ragged clothes begs for the forgiveness from Carmen, but she stays apathetic. Afterwards, the arena is exploded with cheers and applauses, and Carmen believes they are for the victory of Escamillo. She takes off the ring given by Don Jose, wanting to rush into the arena. Don José is thoroughly ablaze with anger, and he draws out the stagger and stabs at Carmen. When people step out from the arena with excitements, they see Carmen lie in blood and hear Don José cry 'I killed her! Carmen, my dear Carmen!'