If
I were allowed to see one opera only, I would choose Bizet's Carmen,
no doubt about it. And I am not alone. After
seeing it twenty times, Friedrich Nietzsche proclaimed it one of the
greatest opera masterpieces. Upon seeing it in Russia, Tchaikovsky
predicted that in ten years it would be the world’s most popular
opera, and it is still so nearly a century and half later. Johannes
Brahms, was reportedly “irresistibly attracted to it.”
Maurice
Ravel (French composer) found three things in music “paragons of
perfection”: the lyrical elegance of Franz Schubert, the Violin
Concerto of Mendelssohn, and Bizet’s
Carmen.
Yet
Bizet died rather suddenly 3 months after the premiere. In fact, the
response to the first performance was so 'cold' that Bizet wandered
in the dark streets of Paris wondering what went wrong. Rumor had it
that Bizet died of “broken heart”, although he had been known to
have chronic throat problem. Some speculate some sort of embolism.
A
good beginning is half success. Let's enjoy Act I first
Habanera
 |
| Elina Garanca as Carmen |
The
first aria Carmen (a gypsy cigarette worker) sings is Habanera
or
“ L'amour
est un oiseau rebelle” (many of the arias have no special name, they are simply known by the beginning lyric),
telling that love is free, follows no rules. And indeed loving Carmen
is a dangerous thing. Elina Garanca sings Carmen in the production
we saw. She is a Russian (now Latvian, so unlike Anna
Netrebko, she is not sanctioned by America and EU) mezo-soprano. The leading role
is usually soprano, Carmen is exception, mezo-soprano.
Carmen:
"L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" or Habanera (Elina
Garanca), accompanied by chorus.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2snTkaD64U
 |
| Montserrat Cabelle |
This
is the best Hebanera in my view, sung by Montserrat Cabelle in 2009, she
has since passed away. Elina Garanca sings it seductively, that reflects the character of Carmen. This aria doesn't call for flirting or
seduction
寸步難行，要兩個人扶著走出場，(She can hardly walks, requiring two people helping to walk)但一開始唱 (but once the singing begins everything
comes alive, 生龍活虎，中氣十足.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CaJ2hi-BN-k
 |
| Agnes Baltsa as Carmen |
Another
2 youtubes by Agnes Baltsa and Maria Callas, aria like this is worth
your while to listen/watch a few morees Baltsahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px36njyCnVM
 |
| Maria Callas as Carmen |
The immortal Maria
Callas Live: Bizet's Carmen Habanera, Hamburg 1962https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EseMHr6VEM0
Carmen
got involved in the fighting with a cigarette co-worker, got arrested,
and was put under custody of a soldier, Don Jose. At this time
Carmen sings Seguedille seductively trying to have Jose set her free and she succeeded.
Séguédille
.jpg) |
| Vivacious Elina Garanca |
Carmen:
Seguedille or "Près des remparts de Séville"
(by Elina Garanca) 2009, French and English captionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHjnVz7Ayyw
 |
| Jose Carreras |
The
following is from a 1988 Metropolitan Opera production, at which time
José Carreras (one of the 3 tenors) just recovered from leukemia
and Agnes Baltsa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtgL-yM9u9Y
There
are a variety of reasons why Carmen is so popular: many good arias,
duets and choruses, as well as good story, There is a female
supporting role, Micaela, who is Jose's childhood playmate in the
village and who is in love with Jose. Jose's mother sent her to the
city (Seville) to see her son.
The
role of Micaela is created to contrast Carmen.
Carmen:
city girl,
attractive & vivacious, flirty & seductive, crafty,
unfaithful
Micaela:
country
girl,
simplistically beautiful,
not flirty, shy & reserved, sincere, faithful
Duet
of Micaela & Don José- "Parle-moi
de ma mère"-
English caption), Barbara Frittoli sings
Micaela.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gST1mPN-A8
highlight
of duet, 54 seconds only.
Carmen:
Act 1 Duet (Don José, Micaëla)
0:54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP9mc9VJQIs
.jpg)
