Carmen (Bizet)
Among Seville's cigar makers, Carmen is the most attractive woman around. Arrested for the assault of a friend, she enthrals the brigadier Don José, who lets her escape. For her, José abandons his childhood sweetheart, gives up his rank, deserts the army… and to what ends will passion drive him when he loses Carmen's love to the glamorous bullfighter Escamillo?
We can only imagine the reactions of the first Parisian audiences at the Opéra Comique, who are said to have been shocked to see the incarnation of such an independent heroine. But what would those audiences in 1875 have seen on stage? With the support of Palazzetto Bru Zane (Centre de Musique Romantique Française), Opéra de Rouen Normandie has (re)created Bizet's Carmen with the original costumes, sets and staging of the 1875 premiere. It has been a long journey for Carmen, the French opera that has now become the most performed around the globe.
After the outrage at the première and Bizet's sudden death in the same year, Carmen started to win the hearts of audiences in Vienna, Brussels, Saint-Petersburg, and New York… and only triumphed in Paris in 1883. His production restores the original mise-en-scène, costumes. It sets to give audiences today an idea of what Bizet's searing depiction of a woman who craves love but creates obsession looked like in its early days.
Introduction to the work (Carmen)
Unfortunately, Bizet's Carmen is sometimes mistaken for an ordinary song because it is too famous. However, this is not the case; it is a wonderful French opera. It is recommended for opera beginners because it is full of well-known songs, and the story is easy to understand. Still, it is a masterpiece among masterpieces, loved by beginners and true opera lovers.
All the famous songs have Spanish flamenco-style melodies, resulting from the French love of the exotic. However, underneath this, there is gentle and elegant French music.
Don't miss the beautiful flute interlude, Micaela's song, and the chorus of children and tobacco factory girls at the beginning—they have a wonderful aroma of French opera! When Bizet's unique French melody appears among the Spanish-style melodies, it feels like a cool breeze blowing through.
Famous songs include the Habanera and Gypsy Song sung by Carmen, the Seguidilla Song, the Flower Song sung by José, the Letter Song sung by Micaela, the Bullfighter Song sung by Escamillo, the wonderful preludes and interludes, and the flamenco dance that always comes in. There are many highlights, and every part of the work is a masterpiece! It is genuinely delightful work.
This work is often performed as an "opera" with only songs. Still, Bizet's original work was written in the "opéra comique" format with dialogue, which is the original form (Guiraud revised the recitative version after Bizet's death).
It is difficult for foreigners to perform, but performances at the Paris Opera and other venues entertain with a wonderfully light-hearted stage with dialogue in French. (These days, performances with dialogue are the norm, not only in France but throughout Europe).
There are also comic scenes unique to French opera, and it is essential that the opera can convey not only the messy love-hate drama of the femme fatale Carmen but also the light-hearted fun and free-spirited nature of the gypsies.
Synopsis (Carmen)
1)
The main character is Don José. In Japan, he is also called " Don José, " but that is the Spanish pronunciation. The original Frenc is pronounced and sung as "José", so I will write it that way. José is... what they call a "useless man".
2)
(Act 1)
In Seville, where the guards hang out, a pretty girl called Micaela visits Don José.
The soldiers tease him, saying: "José? He's not here now, but he'll come soon. Pretty girl, wait here for us." She runs away and says, "No, I'll return later!"
3)
A trumpet sounds, signalling that the guard must change. The town's children gather, sing, and make noise, imitating the soldiers' march. José's superior tells him, "A pretty girl has come to see you, in blue clothes and with pigtails." He thinks of his hometown and thinks, "It must be Micaela."
4)
The bell rings for the break in the tobacco factory, and the girls come out. The men lie in wait. Carmen, who works there, is the object of their admiration for her uninhibited and seductive charm.
5)
Corporal José is handsome but earnest and simple-minded and doesn't pay attention to her. Not happy about this, Carmen sings (Habanera: Love is a wild bird) surrounded by her entourage and throws flowers at José to attract his attention. José calls her a slut, picks up the strong-smelling flower and puts it in his pocket.
6)
Then Micaela arrives. Her mother has taken her to José's hometown and brought her to visit him with a letter from her mother and some money. She is happy to see him again, shyly hands him a letter with a bézé (kiss) from her mother, and sings a beautiful duet (the letter song).
The letter says: "I am lonely without my son, and I want him to return soon and marry this nice girl". José thinks: "Oh, my mother, Bézé, has protected me from the devil's temptations".
7)
Micaela leaves, the factory girls start screaming, and a fight emerges. Carmen gets into a big fight with a colleague, hurts him and is arrested. Jose, whose job is to arrest her, is seduced by Carmen and sings to him when they are alone. (She sings a Seguidilla)
8)
"I told you not to talk!"
"I'm not talking. I'm just singing. I didn't say it was wrong. And I'm thinking. About an officer..." (Jose is startled)
"Please untie me and let me go. Do you know a place in Lillas Bastia? Near the walls of Seville. It's no fun to go alone. I want to go with you. Let's drink and dance there..."
"Oh... I think I'm drunk. Carmen, do you love me? I promise." He unties her and lets her go.
9)
(Act 2)
Two months later, in a bar in Lillas Bastia. Many customers are drinking and singing.
The opening scene is fascinating, with Carmen singing "Gypsy Song" (usually accompanied by flamenco dancing) and Escamillo singing "Bullfighter Song". The
Popular bullfighter Escamillo is cheered by everyone and immediately makes a move on Carmen, who catches his eye. "The next time I kill a bull, I'll call your name".
10)
After he leaves, her fellow gypsies offer her a job as a smuggler. But Carmen replies, "I can't do it." When they ask her why, why? She replies, "Because... I'm in love!" The boys are stunned and begin to laugh.
Then, the rumoured José appears. He was imprisoned for helping Carmen escape and has just been released. He makes a dashing entrance and sings the Dragoon Song.
11)
Carmen, who has been waiting for Jose all this time, is delighted and starts to sing for him with castanets in hand. A bugle sounds in the distance, signalling they should go home. "Well, I just wanted some music," says Carmen as she dances to the bugle sound while Jose is anxious to go home. However, when Jose still wants to go home, she becomes angry.
12)
"I sing and dance for you, but when the horn blows, you fly away like a little bird and go home! I don't need a man like that; go home, boy!"
"That's terrible, Carmen, it's hard to go, but you know you've got to come back for roll call!" he says, singing "Flower Song".
"I never let go of the flower you threw me. Even when it wilted, its strong scent made me think of you. I curse my fate, but I have one wish: Carmen, I love you!"
13)
"No, I don't love you. If you loved me, you would follow me wherever I went. Far, far into the mountains, on horseback, you would pick me up and take me away!"
But José can't desert and join a smuggling gang.
14)
Then Suniga, José's superior, appears. He comes to meet Carmen but is surprised that her subordinate, José, also meets her. And José had not even returned to the camp, Sniga growls. José, too, is upset by Suniga and draws his sword just as Carmen's friends appear. Carmen and her friends threaten and silence Suniga while placating her.
15)
He couldn't return to the army if he had drawn his sword against his superior.
"You're our friend now," Carmen says, to which José replies, "I have no choice."
"That's not a manly thing to say. Well, come with me to a wandering life. No rules, do what you want, freedom, freedom!"
José cries out reluctantly but with a bit of joy: "La Liberte! (Freedom!)."
16)
(Act 3)
The smugglers continue their dangerous journey through the mountains. José joins them.
However, his relationship with Carmen has already cooled down; he does not fit in with the gypsy atmosphere and feels alone, reminding him of his mother at home, who still believes he is an honest person. Carmen is angry with José and tells him, "This job isn't for you, it's not your place".
17)
To cheer herself up, Carmen imitates the women who tell fortunes with cards (the card song), and all the cards that come up are "death". She realises her fate when she keeps getting the card of death, no matter how many times she tries.
When it was time to take the smuggled goods into town, they talked about how to fool the tax officials, and the women sang, "Leave it to us! We'll get it through with a sexy tactic!" The free and strong spirit of the gypsies was terrific and charming.
18)
The dark and rugged mountains, accompanied by a guide hired by Micaela. Micaela had come alone to a dangerous place where even the locals would not go in search of Jose. She sang "There's nothing to be afraid of" with determination.
19)
Then Micaela saw Jose in the distance. He was holding his gun. A shot!
To her surprise, Jose had shot Escamillo. But the bullet missed, and Jose put down his gun, knowing that he was not the enemy. Escamillo said that he had come to see Carmen: "I heard that a soldier deserted for her, but that's over now. Carmen's love will not last six months." When Jose heard this, he became furious, and a duel ensued.
20)
But Carmen and the others rush in and stop them. Escamillo leaves, looking cool, and says, "I'll invite you all to a bullfight in Seville. I'll do my best. And I want my beloved Carmen to come and watch". José is frustrated and angry.
Just as they are about to leave, Micaela is discovered hiding. She runs up to José and begs him to go home, saying, "My mother is crying for you!" to the "Letter Song" tune. Carmen laughs and says, "Oh dear, what a little girl!"
21)
Bluntly tells José, "Go, go, go home with that girl. This job is not for you. José is furious and says, "So now it's time for you to run off with a new lover. No! I'll never go back. Even in death, I can't break this bond with you!"
"José, I have another thing to say: this is the last time. My mother is dying, but she cannot die before you have forgiven her..."
"My mother! Ah! Ah, I'm going!... Carmen, are you satisfied? But we will meet again!" The curtain closes with Escamillo's song of the Toreador, heard from afar.
22)
(Act 4)
The bullring in Seville is amid a celebration, with a large crowd singing and making noise.
It is rumoured that Don José has returned to his hometown but has since disappeared.
The march begins, and the bullfighter appears. Escamillo appears before the enthusiastic crowd.
Carmen runs to him, and they fall in passionate love. "Soon, you will be proud of me," he says in a corny tone.
23)
After he disappears into the ring, Carmen's friends repeatedly warn her, "Look out, José is coming!" but she remains unperturbed, saying, "I will not run or hide.
José comes.
"You."
"It's me."
"Carmen, please, let's forget what happened and start again somewhere far away."
"No, we're finished. I'm not lying; I'm just telling the truth."
24)
"Carmen, there's still time, there's still time. Let me save you, my love, and save me too."
"No, there's no time. Even if my time of death were near, I wouldn't give in."
25)
"Yes, there's still time! Let me save you!"
"It's useless! This love isn't for you anymore! There's nothing left!"
"Do you no longer love me?"
"I don't."
"I still love you; I still long for you! Please don't leave me! I'll do anything you want; remember, we were so in love!"
26)
(Cheers from the bullring)
"Where are you going?! Are you going to see that man laughing at me in his arms? I won't let you go even if you bleed!"
"Whatever you say, I will not obey. Carmen was born free, and she will die free."
27)
"I'm tired of threatening you; this is the last time; will you follow me?"
"No! Here's the ring you gave me a long time ago!" (throws the ring away)
José stabs Carmen with a dagger.
Fanfares and songs praising bullfighters play from the bullring.
José screams.
Carmen (Bizet)
https://qqcumb.web.fc2.com/carmen.html
CARMEN Bizet – Palazzetto Bru Zane, Opéra de Rouen Normandie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5judmz2j3I
TRAILER | CARMEN Bizet – Palazzetto Bru Zane, Opéra de Rouen Normandie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XeUtixlvco
An introduction to CARMEN Bizet – Palazzetto Bru Zane, Opéra de Rouen Normandie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u7DfkbfvLM
[AI High-Quality Version] Bizet: Carmen (C. Kleiber, 1978) [Full Songs, Japanese Subtitles] (1080p/60fps)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6rpw8uRGOc&t=0s
Bizet [Life and masterLifees] The Life and masterpieces of the genius composer who died young / Classical masterpieces such as Carmen, the Woman of Arles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch0vdKe1D8g
What are popular operas?
https://www.suac.ac.jp/opera/blog/2022/03/00107/
Q:
Was Carmen accepted in French as well?
Opera has traditionally been mainly Italian, but the number of German operas has increased with the appearance of Mozart, Weber, Wagner, and Strauss. When Bizet produced Carmen, were there many French operas, and were they popular?
https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1289578642
A:
Carmen became a hit throughout Europe after Bizet's death when his friend Guiraud's German grand opera version was performed in Vienna.
In March 1875, Bizet's last opera-comique, Carmen, was performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. The premiere was unsuccessful. An opera-comique is a musical drama in which lines that connect songs are connected as lines without melody. It has an image closer to German Singspiel and modern musicals (such as The Magic Flute and Orpheus in the Underworld) than the Italian operas of the time. Bizet died in despair three months later.
However, it was not a complete failure and was performed intermittently. His friend Guiraud changed the lines to recitative, added a ballet, and performed it in Vienna in October of the same year as a German grand opera. This, along with the charm of the melody and the exoticism, was the first time it gained popularity throughout Europe.
In Vienna, Wagner's musical dramas already existed alongside Italian opera, so it was unnecessary to write them in Italian. German was considered more suitable since the subject matter was not mythology or the upper-class aristocracy but the lower classes.
After that, the French Guiraud version became the standard, but since Cluytens recorded it in the Comique version, it has become more mainstream. The interrogation scene of Carmen doesn't make sense in the grand opera version. I think Karajan's CD was the Comique version, the DVD was the Guiraud version, and all of Callas's versions are Guiraud versions.
