![carmen opera carmen opera](https://stageandcinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Ekaterina-Gubanova_CARMEN_LYR170208_154_c.Todd-Rosenberg.jpg)
![carmen opera carmen opera](https://149362819.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_6441-2.jpg)
A fine mark of recognition! Statue of Carmen at the Opéra Comique In Paris, in the Opéra-Comique theatre where the scandal was cried out in 1875, a sculpture of Carmen now stands and welcomes visitors. Carmen, frozen for eternity at the Opéra-Comique in Paris The term ‘opéra-comique’ was coined in 1714 when Louis XIV allowed a fairground troupe to perform in the Opéra-Comique theatre in Paris. In order to continue performing, the fairground troupes invented a new kind of show halfway between opera and comedy, containing sung passages that were mixed with spoken ones, rather like a musical.
![carmen opera carmen opera](https://www.operaforall.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/CarmenLR.jpg)
They obtained from the king a ban on speaking on stage for these fairground troupes. Under Louis XIV, the organisation of shows was very codified and the comedians were not happy with the success of the fairground theatres. Moreover, the director of the Opéra-Comique, who wanted “a small, easy, cheerful thing”, was exasperated by this play, which he considered too far removed from his aspirations.įinally, the first performance took place on 3 March 1875 in the presence of a few personalities such as Dumas fils and Offenbach as well as numerous critics and journalists.Ĭontrary to what its name might suggest, an “opéra-comique” is not necessarily comical or joyful! The origin of its name is quite different… The creation of this adaptation is not easy: between the demands of the interpreter of the role of Carmen, musicians who struggle with the score and singers whose performance leaves something to be desired, the rehearsals are complicated to say the least. The challenge was great, as the story had to be toned down to make it less violent than in Mérimée’s novella. He called on Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy to write the libretto for this opera, which was to be performed at the Opéra-Comique, with which the composer was under contract. Portrait of Georges Bizet by Etienne CarjatĬaptivated by orientalism, Georges Bizet (1838-1875) fell in love with Mérimée’s novella, which he wanted to transpose into an opera.