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Carmen
Opéra Bastille - from 15 November 2022 to 25 February 2023
Carmen
Georges Bizet
Opéra Bastille - from 15 November 2022 to 25 February 2023
2h55 with 1 interval
Language : French
Surtitle : French / English
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Opening night : 15 Nov. 2022
About
In few words:
At the premiere of Carmen on March 3rd 1875 at the Opéra‑Comique, the audience, shocked by its “Castillian wantonness”, cried scandal! Georges Bizet, who died three months later, never knew that his opera was to become one of the most widely performed in the world. Although the success of this work can be attributed to its unforgettable melodies, it also owes much to the independent character of the celebrated cigarette factory worker: “Carmen will never give in. Born free, she will die free”, sings the heroine to Don José at the end of the opera. Her irrepressible liberty, coupled with the necessity to live on a knife’s edge, ever more intensely, is captured by Calixto Bieito’s production as by none other. From Mérimée’s original character, Bieito’s Carmen retains her profoundly Iberian contours and the ardent temperament of a woman living off small‑time trafficking. This rebel, however, is a thoroughly contemporary creature. A tantalising and indomitable vamp, she lives life in the fast lane, in an urgent desire to fully exist.
CHARACTERS
Don José: A soldier and Carmen’s lover who deserts the army for her
Micaela: A young girl originally from Don José’s village
Escamillo: A toreador and one of Carmen’s lovers
Frasquita and Mercedes: Two gypsy girls who are friends of Carmen
Zuniga: Don José’s superior officer
Morales: A regimental comrade of Don José
Le Dancaïre and Remendado: Two smugglers
- Opening
- First part 85 mn
- Intermission 30 mn
- Second part 60 mn
- End
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Carmen
Opera in four acts (1875)
After Prosper Mérimée
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Performances
Book your tickets today with the Season Pass
Available in audiodescription
Advantages
Full
Book your tickets today with the Season Pass
Available in audiodescription
Advantages
Full
Gallery
Videos clips
Audio clips
Carmen (saison 22/23)- Acte 1 (Michael Spyres, Gaëlle Arquez)
Carmen (saison 22/23) - Acte 3(Gaëlle Arquez, Andrea Cueva Molnar, Adèle Charvet)
Carmen (saison 22/23)- Acte 1 (Choeur d'enfants)
Carmen (saison 22/23) - Acte 2 (Michael Spyres)
Backstage
01:09’
Video
Draw-me Carmen
Understand the plot in 1 minute
“Carmen will never surrender, born free, free will she die”cries Bizet’s heroine to Don José at the end of the opera. This irrepressible freedom, coupled with a need to live ever more intensely on a knife-edge, is present in Calixto Bieito’s production as in no other. Of Mérimée’s character, Bieito’s Carmen retains her thoroughly Iberian contours and the burning temperament of a woman who lives by small-time trafficking. However, the rebel bird is essentially a creature of our own times. A brazen and indomitable seductress and a product of social and masculine brutality, she lives life in the fast lane, avid for existence.
02:44’
Video
Imaginaries Carmen
A repertoire work narrated in a visual poem born of popular culture
© Guergana Damianova / OnP
06:42’
Video
Carmen - headlong into the bullring
Interview with Gaëlle Arquez
Who is Carmen? A rebel? The victim of a society she rejects and dares to confront? A woman in love? What are the vocal implications of the role? For her first Carmen at the Paris Opera, Gaëlle Arquez draws the portrait of Opéra’s most famous heroine.
Podcast
Opera word for word - Carmen
Literary podcast evoking an opera and a stage director's vision
01’
Georges Bizet's Carmen in Calixto Bieito's production, in the words of Théophile Gautier, Javier Cercas, Prosper Mérimée, Renaud Rebardy, Pascal Bruckner.
Copyright :
- Théophile Gautier, Carmen dans Émaux et Camées, 1852
- Javier Cercas, Les Lois de la frontière, (c) Actes Sud, 2014
- Prosper Mérimée, Carmen, 1845
- Renaud Rebardy, Les Filles de la Jonquera, (c) Mare nostrum, 2010
- Pascal Bruckner, Le Paradoxe amoureux, (c) Grasset, 2009
- Prosper Mérimée, Carmen, 1845
Quiz
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Partners
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Sponsor of Carmen
On-site Services
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Cloakrooms
Free cloakrooms are at your disposal. The comprehensive list of prohibited items is available here.
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Bars
Reservation of drinks and light refreshments for the intervals is possible online up to 24 hours prior to your visit, or at the bars before each performance.
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Boutiques
A selection of works items are available on our various boutiques: Online store and The Opéra Bastille Shop.
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Last-minute tickets
Special reduced rates for people under the age of 28, unemployed and seniors over 65 are available.
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Parking
You can park your car at the Q-Park Opéra Bastille. It is located at 34 rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris.