Carmen
3
Carmen-Georges Bizet First premiered: Opéra-Comique, Paris, 3 March 1875 Librettists: Henri Meilhac, Ludovic Halévy Genre: Opéra comique Carmen is an opera composed by the French comperser Georges Bizet. The opera includes 4 acts. At its first premiere in Paris, the opera was not particularly successful. It became more celebrated after Bizet’s death. There is no clear indication of when work began on Carmen. Bizet and the two librettists were all in Paris during 1873 and easily to meet. The libretto was prepared in accordance with the convention of opéra comique with dialogue separating musical numbers. With rehearsal began in October 1873, Bizet had began to write all the music around January of that year. The project was suspended for a while, because of the difficulties in finding a singer for the tittle role. The opera tells the story about a naïve soldier, Don José who is seduced by the wiles of fiery Gypsy, Carmen. José left his lover and deserted from his military duties. Still, he lost Carmen’s love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo, after which he killed her in a jealous rage. Due to the depiction of immorality and lawlessness of the story, and a tragic death of main character, Georges Bizet broke new ground in French opera and was highly controversial. Most reviews were critical. Carmen started to gain its reputation outside France, and was not revived in Paris until 1883. Later commentators asserted that Carmen form is the bridge between the tradition of opéra comique and the realism that characterized late 19 th century Italian opera. Music Bizet, who had never visited Spain, sought out appropriate ethnic material to provide an authentic Spanish flavor to his music. Carmen’s renowned Habanera is based on an idiomatic song, “El Arreglito” by the Spanish-American composer Sebastian Yradier. Bizet wanted this song to be a genuine folk melody. He used a genuine folk song as the
-
Upload
omemee-archuleta -
Category
Documents
-
view
2 -
download
0
description
Carmen Analysis
Transcript of Carmen
Carmen-Georges Bizet
First premiered: Opra-Comique, Paris, 3 March 1875Librettists: Henri Meilhac, Ludovic HalvyGenre: Opra comique
Carmen is an opera composed by the French comperser Georges Bizet. The opera includes 4 acts. At its first premiere in Paris, the opera was not particularly successful. It became more celebrated after Bizets death.There is no clear indication of when work began on Carmen. Bizet and the two librettists were all in Paris during 1873 and easily to meet. The libretto was prepared in accordance with the convention of opra comique with dialogue separating musical numbers. With rehearsal began in October 1873, Bizet had began to write all the music around January of that year. The project was suspended for a while, because of the difficulties in finding a singer for the tittle role.The opera tells the story about a nave soldier, Don Jos who is seduced by the wiles of fiery Gypsy, Carmen. Jos left his lover and deserted from his military duties. Still, he lost Carmens love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo, after which he killed her in a jealous rage.Due to the depiction of immorality and lawlessness of the story, and a tragic death of main character, Georges Bizet broke new ground in French opera and was highly controversial. Most reviews were critical. Carmen started to gain its reputation outside France, and was not revived in Paris until 1883. Later commentators asserted that Carmen form is the bridge between the tradition of opra comique and the realism that characterized late 19th century Italian opera.
MusicBizet, who had never visited Spain, sought out appropriate ethnic material to provide an authentic Spanish flavor to his music. Carmens renowned Habanera is based on an idiomatic song, El Arreglito by the Spanish-American composer Sebastian Yradier. Bizet wanted this song to be a genuine folk melody. He used a genuine folk song as the source of Carmens defiant Coupe-moi, brle-moi while other parts used the rhythms and instrumentation associated with flamenco music.The prelude to act 1 combines three recurrent themes: the entry of the bullfighters from act 4, the refrain from the Toreador Song from act 2, and the motif that, in two slightly differing forms, represents both Carmen and the fate that she personifies.
Notable AriasToreador Song- (Votre toast, je peux vous le render) This song is sung by the bullfighter, Escamillo as he enters in act 2, and describes situations in the bullring, the cheering of the crowd and the fame that comes with the victory.Habanera- Known as Lamour est un oiseaux rebelle (Love is a rebellious bird) This song is sung by a mezzo-soprano role, Carmen. The song was adapted from El Arreglito original composed by the Spanish musician Sebastian Yradier. It is based on a descending chromatic scale followed by variants of the same phrase in minor and then the major key. The lyrics is obviously about love that always comes and goes. When you think to hold it fast, it flees you. You think to flee, it holds you.
RoleRoleVoice typePremiere cast, 3 March 1875Conductor:Adolphe Deloffre[14]
Carmen,A Gypsy Girlmezzo-sopranoClestine Galli-Mari
Don Jos,Corporal of DragoonstenorPaul Lhrie
Escamillo,Toreadorbass-baritoneJacques Bouhy
Micala,A Village MaidensopranoMarguerite Chapuy
Zuniga,Lieutenant of DragoonsbassEugne Dufriche
Morals,Corporal of DragoonsbaritoneEdmond Duvernoy
Frasquita,Companion of CarmensopranoAlice Ducasse
Mercds,Companion of Carmenmezzo-sopranoEsther Chevalier
Lillas Pastia,an innkeeperspokenM. Nathan
Le Dancare,smugglerbaritonePierre-Armand Potel
Le Remendado,smugglertenorBarnolt
A guidespokenM. Teste
Chorus: Soldiers, young men, cigarette factory girls, Escamillo's supporters, Gypsies, merchants and orange sellers, police, bullfighters, people, urchins.
