Carmen

MusicSmiles.com
The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

In 1873 Georges Bizet started composing his opera-comique, Carmen¹, which was produced in Paris in 1875. It met with a very cool reception at the cutting-edge realism of the work; and there's some speculation that the ensuing scandal contributed to his early death (experts' comments please).

But Georges' fame rests very largely on this masterpiece. The combination of brilliant musical 'colour' and emotional impact, coupled with Georges' fastidious workmanship and wonderful melodies, ensured its lasting success. A large number of the items in it are also concert pieces in their own right.

The opera is written in four acts to a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, adapted from a novel by Prosper Mérimé (1845). It is sometimes (but rarely) performed with recitatives replacing the original spoken dialogue. These were composed by Ernest Guiraud. This version was performed in Paris in 1875, and in London and New York in 1878. The opera is simply teaming with popular masterpieces, and the famous Habeñera in act 1 is thought to have been inspired by a chanson havanaise by the Spanish composer Sebastion Yradier (1809-65).

A Vocal Score² of the opera shows the following fascinating information:

CARMEN

First Performed at the Opèra-Comique, Paris, March 3, 1875.
_____________________

Characters of the Drama,
With the Original Cast as presented at the first performance.

	Don Jose, Corporal of Dragoons . . . . M. Lherie.
	Escamillo, Toreador . . . . . . M. Bouhy
	Zuniga, Captain of Dragoons . . . . . . M. Dufriche.
	Morales, Officer . . . . . . . . M. Duvernoy.
	Lillas Pastia, Innkeeper . . . . . M. Nathan.
	Carmen, a Gypsy-girl . . . . . . . Mme. Galli-Marie.
	Micaela, a Village maiden . . . . . . Mlle. Chapuy.
	Frasquita, Companion of Carmen . . . . Mlle. Ducasse.
	Mercedes, Companion of Carmen . . . . Mlle. Chevalier.
	El Dancairo, Smuggler
	El Remedado, Smuggler
	A Guide. Dragoons, Gypsies, Smugglers, Cigarette-Girls, Street-Boys, etc.

_____________________

Act I. - A Public Square in Sevilla. Act II. - Lillas Pastia's Tavern. Act III. - A Wild Mountain-pass. Act VI. - Public Square in Sevilla at the Entrance of the Circus.

_____________________

Among a number of famous recordings we have heard, one stands out in our memories¹. Here are some more titles and cast-names to conjure with:-

	Carmen (a gypsy) . . . Agnes Baltsa
	Don José (a corporal) . . . José Carreras
	Escamillo (a bullfighter) . . José van Dam
	Micaëla (a country girl) . . Katia Ricciarelli
	Frasquita (a gypsy) . . . Christine Barbaux
	Mercédès (a gypsy) . . . Jane Berbié
	Zuniga (a lieutenant) . . . Alexander Malta
	Moralès (a corporal) . . . Mikael Melbye
	Le Dancaïre (a smuggler) . .Gino Quilico
	Le Remendado (a smuggler) Heinz Zednik
	Andrès (a lieutenant) . . . Michel Marinpouille

However that's sufficient technical talk for the moment, click El Toro's tail < < < to take a 'grandstand seat' at the The Story of Carmen.

Footnote 1. (And 2) Further details may be obtained in our MusicSmiles bibliography. Return to story.

To search for an article in our special MusicSmiles Contents table

< < < Click Wise Owl's book < < <

If you quote or print anything from this Web-site please add a link to MusicSmiles.com in your Web-site. Thanks.

This site was last updated on 27 September 2010 .

( Click number to view statistics > > >). Scribe thanks all our 223,547 MusicSmiles visitors up to beginning of September, 2010.

You may find our special effects work best with Microsoft Internet Explorer