Bizet's Carmen
Núria Espert (stage director), Zubin Mehta (conductor) – With Maria Ewing, Luis Lima and Leontina Vaduva – Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Thank you for your understanding.
Cast
Núria Espert — Stage director
Gerardo Vera — Set designer
Bruno Boyer — Lighting
Franca Squarciapino — Costumes
Maria Ewing — Carmen
Luis Lima — Don José
Leontina Vaduva — Micaëla
Gino Quilico — Escamillo
Judith Howarth — Frasquita
Jean Rigby — Mercedes
Roderick Earle — Zuniga
Christopher Booth-Jones — Morales
Jean-Pierre Blanchard — Andres
Bruno Caproni — Dancaïro
Francis Egerton — Remendado
Daniel Pageon — Lillas Pastia
Program notes
Bizet's masterwork, Carmen, directed for stage by the Spanish actress Núria Espert.
Carmen is certainly one of the world's most popular operas. The overture, the famous habanera "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle," to name but a few, are universally well-known scores; and rightly so, as the colorful and vibrant music composed by Bizet recreates brilliantly the intense and sensuous atmosphere of the 19th century Spain. The outstanding production by the Spanish stage director and actress Núria Espert lets the spectator enjoy once again the hymn to passion and freedom.
Carmen by Bizet: the story.
Carmen, a gypsy girl, has set her heart on Don José, a corporal of dragoons already engaged with Micaëla. Carmen and Micaëla have an argument. Carmen is caught by Zuniga, the Lieutenant of the dragoons, who asks Don José to carry Carmen to prison. Under the spell of the beautiful gypsy girl, Don José sets Carmen free. In a tavern a few months later, Zuniga and the toreador Escamillo try to seduce Carmen. She turns them away. Don José walks into the tavern and declares his undying love to the young gypsy girl. Carmen asks him to follow her through the mountain with the smugglers as a proof of his love. Impossible! His military honor impedes him from doing such a thing. Zuniga, abusing of his authority, tries to push Don José out of the way in order to seduce Carmen. The two men fight a duel. Don José wins over his superior, and has no choice but to accept to follow Carmen in the mountains. Carmen neglects her lover Don José, who starts to feel jealous. During a bullfight in Sevilla, the toreador Escamillo appears with the radiant Carmen next to him. Desperate, Don José asks her to get back to him. In a fit of madness, he kills Carmen, his beloved.
