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Carmen is a four-part opera, adapted from Prosper Mérimé’s (a French writer) novel of the same name. Georges Bizet composed the music, and this was his most famous piece though time. Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy wrote the libretto, which was originally in French. It premiered at the Opera Comique in Paris in 1875 and lasted about three hours (Bizet’s Carmen ; Waugh, 1996)

George Bizet was born in Paris. He was trained musically by his parents since a young age, and was put into the Paris Conservatoire just before he turned ten. He excelled at piano and had composed many songs. When Bizet went to Rome, he begun many compositions, but only four, including opera buffa, Don Procopio survived. His other works throughout the years, that gained recognition, included operas Les Pechurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers), and La Jolie Fille de Perth (The Fair Mai of Perth), piano duet Jeux D'enfants and one-act opera, Djamileh. From Djmileh, he created his masterpiece Carmen (Classical Music Pages, 1996; Waugh, 1996). Sadly, Carmen was Bizet’s last work. He died three months after its premier, at the age of 36.

Inspiration for the Carmen character probabl

y came from a lady named Céleste Vénard, or more commonly known as La Mogador. She led a colorful life, and was married to Lionel, Comte de Moreton de Chabrillan, a young nobleman who gambled away his fortune, despite many eligible and wealthy suitors. She dazzled many men during her lifetime, and even made a Jewish musician change his religion, as well as give up his career. La Mogador tried her hands at many occupations, which includes actress, author, singer, director, and temptress. She met Bizet in 1865, when she bought an estate next to his home. Based on her Mémoires (book that she had written about her life), their relationship was purely platonic. But it was clear that Bizet was intrigued by her charms, when he visits her frequently in her house (her husband was dead by than). She bought a piano at his request, and often invited Bizet over to compose at his pleasure. Bizet always play when she is there, claiming that her presence inspire him. According to his biographers and musicologist, Bizet “borrowed” a song by Sebastián Yradier, “El Arregilito” for Carmen’s “Habañera”. He came to know about this composer when La Mogador sang his songs (Brener, 1996).

The version that will be critiqued here was done in The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in London. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, and the Royal Opera Chorus, together with conductor Zubin Mehta presented this version of the opera in 1991. The cast of Maria Ewing as Carmen, Luis Lima as Don José, Leontina Vaduva as Micaëla and Gino Quilico as Escamillo were also involved in putting the act together. Spanish actress and director Nuria Espert lent her hand at directing this stage play, and Gerardo Vera was in charge of the set design. Cristina Hoyos choreographed the flamenco.

Some topics in this essay:
Don José, Death Theme, Vénard’s Mémoires, Carmen José’s, Bizet’s Carmen, La Mogador, Based Mémoires, Escamillo Zuñiga, José José, Lionel Comte, don josé, la mogador, waugh 1996, royal opera, carmen original novel, 1996 waugh, céleste vénard, brener 1996, inspiration carmen, music pages 1996, classical music, classical music pages, music pages, royal opera house, 1996 waugh 1996,