 The
world renowned opera singer Luciano Pavorotti once described
his life long passion as “yelling with intelligence.”
I found that my second opera experience, Carmen, was just
that -- a tempest of powerful voices that told a tale in which
seduction, betrayal, and a gluttonous appetite for “freedom”
conquers all.
George Bizet, the creator of Carmen, was born in 1838. He
was a French composer commissioned to write a three-act opera
that debuted at Paris’s second opera house, the Opera-Comique,
where happy endings were expected and the theme of good conquering
evil always prevailed. It was this tradition of idealism that
made Bizet’s rather racy opera so controversial. Carmen
embodied a raw sensuality in addition to brutal  selfishness
and an irresistible charm. She seduced men, broke hearts,
and destroyed lives without ever feeling an ounce of regret.
Audiences were used to being “amused, entertained, and
even excited, but never shocked,” as Bizet’s operatic
adaptation of Proper Merimee’s novel left them.
Geroge Bizet died on June 3rd, 1875, three months after the
famous opening night of "Carmen", and five years
after the idea for the opera was first conceived. Unfortunately,
like many great artists, he did not live long enough to see
his opera rise above the hostile incomprehension that it was
greeted with at its world premiere in Paris. If he had lived
just three more years he would have seen "Carmen"
performed in cities all over Europe as well as in New York
and Philadelphia. He would have finally been able to make
a respectable living by reaping the benefits of his masterpiece.
The opera tells the tale of Carmen, a dangerous temptress
who easily captivates the masses. During her break at the
cigarette factory she meets Don Jose, a soldier, who completely
surrenders himself to her enchanting sexuality and willingly
sacrifices all that is stable in his life. The passion between
them skips right over love to emotions rooted in jealousy
, foolish pride, and a refusal to let go.
The dynamics of her self-absorption and complete disregard
for other people’s lives, emotions, and feelings are
quite intriguing. Ironically, Carmen is both loved and hated
for her free spirit and haphazard dealings with lust and passion
that are quick to be labeled as love. She is hailed for being
a strong, assertive woman, unafraid to pursue her own desires
yet denounced for her manipulative cruelty. What is even more
ironic is the fact that Carmen denies the men she “loves,”
of the very thing she claims to value most--freedom. They
willingly fall into her trap, forsaking their honor, stability,
and legitimacy to be the focus of Carmen’s fleeting
attention.
Carmen is by far one of the most popular opera’s in
the world. It is a timeless tale that embodies the power of
passion and desire. This tragedy emphasizes the fragility
of the human heart, it is not to be toyed with. By the end
of the show I understood Don Jose’s refusal to let go
of the one woman he sacrificed his life for. I understood
Carmen’s fixation on freedom just as I understood the
one clap from the audience that followed her death. Carmen
was a ruthless woman that had no mercy on any man’s
heart yet I admired the fact that she lived by her own set
of values that were compromised by no one. Most people live
their entire lives struggling to break free of another person’s
standards and expectations. Carmen never had that problem.
The performance as a whole was captivating. I did not expect
to enjoy it as much as I did. The traditional costumes and
vibrant, beautifully composed music is as pleasing to the
eyes as it is with the ears. Leading lady, Katharine Goeldner,
graced the stage with an amazing voice and an uncanny ability
to bring Carmen, a century-old character, to life. I suggest
that everyone give opera a chance and go see "Carmen"!
4 Stars!
Student rush passes for Carmen and other shows are available
on Saturdays for $10
For information, call Lincoln Center Box Office 212.875.5456.
Click the Link to Find out More Information About Carmen:
http://opera.stanford.edu/Bizet/Carmen/main.html
http://nhnh.essortment.com/storiescarmeno_rhlt.htm
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