Carmen, Quarantined

Need to Know

About Bizet

George Bizet, born in Paris in 1838, was a child prodigy and his great talent caused the Paris Conservatory to waive its age rule to admit him to study by the age of 9. While studying their, he turned his talents to writing opera and was successful in replicating the lighter styles of the genre composing his first opera, La maison du docteur. In 1857, he won the prestigious Prix de Rome and spent 3 years studying composition in Italy.

Returning to Paris, Bizet struggled to gain traction of his compositions, theaters preferred to produce established operas. His operas of this period, Les pêcheurs de perles (1863) and La jolie fille de Perth (1867) were not immediately successful (though Les pêcheurs de perles is now a part of the standard repertoire) and he turned to transcribing and arranging other composers music.

In 1869, Bizet married Geneviève Halévy, her family initially opposed the marriage, but eventually conceded. At this time, Bizet started to sketch out new ideas for operas, but that was halted by the start of the Franco-Prussion War in which Bizet served as a National Guard.

In 1872, Bizet was approached to compose three acts for the Opéra-Comique, the project was on Prosper Mérimée’s novella, Carmen. Bizet encountered many obstacles prior to the premiere of Carmen, including a co-director of the theater, who resigned over feared the work being too risqué. The Opéra-Comique’s orchestra and chorus, both struggled with the difficulty of the score and the chorus was dismayed at the idea that had to act as individuals, acting on stage, rather than singing in a straight line.

Carmen premiered in March of 1875 to mixed reviews, Bizet unfortunately would die prior to the opera becoming an international success. Three months after the premier, at the age of 36, the composer, a heavy smoker, died of a heart attack.

Learn more about Bizet from Classic FM, CMuse, and TheFamousPeople.com

About Carmen

Carmen the opera premiered in 1875 and is based on the novella by Prosper Mérimé. Today, Carmen is one of the top five operas performed around the world today and has some of the most recognized music in the world. Check out some of its greatest hits below: Additional Listening.

Carmen premiered at the Opéra-Comique because the opera contained spoken dialogue, not because it was a comedy. The tragic drama shocked some audience members with its “drastic realism” and by the low standing and defective morality of most of the characters. Composers Massenet, Offenbach, Delibes, and Gounod attended the premiere, the later complained that Bizet stole his melodies.

Carmen centers around the dysfunctional relationship between the title character and Don José. Bizet highlights their incompatibility musically, neither characters, Carmen or Don José, share the same tune throughout the opera. It isn’t until Act IV that we hear Carmen’s music sync with another character, Escamillo. Hear their duet here.

From San Diego Opera’s blog with Dr. Nic, “Every time Carmen opens her mouth in this opera, the accompanying music is a dance form: habanera, seguidilla, gypsy dance. Even the ‘card aria’ (“En vain pour éviter”) is a slow dance of death.”

Carmen is one of the most popular operas still today, read the reasons why from Classical FM and Classical MPR.

No tonic is going to help this relationship!

In honor of Carmen, an opera set in sunny Seville, our pre-opera cocktail is a “Spanish Gin & Tonic.” It may be surprising, but Spain is one of the top consumers of gin in the world and from Liquor.com, “All throughout Spain, and particularly in Basque Country, it’s common to see Gin & Tonics garnished with all manner of ingredients and combinations.” So sit back and enjoy this herbaceous and aromatic twist on a classic cocktail, watch John build it here.

Ingredients: 2 oz. Gin, 4 oz Tonic Water, Garnishes, Juniper Berries, Lemon Wheel, Orange Peel, Rosemary and Thyme Sprigs. Directions: In a glass with ice, place Lemon Wheel and Thyme sprigs, add gin and top with tonic water, garnish with juniper berries, orange peel, and rosemary sprig. Enjoy!

Synopsis

Overview

Carmen takes place in 19th century Seville, Spain and deals with the love and jealously of soldier Don José to the title character. José’s obsession with Carmen, leads him to abandon his post and follow her into a criminal life of smuggling goods into the country. Months later, Carmen tiring of José’s violent outbursts, finds love in another, the bull fighter Escamillo. José returns to Seville on the day of the bull fight and begs Carmen to return to him, she denies him and in a jealous rage he kills her.