Georges Bizet - Carmen DVD 2007 Royal Opera House / Directed by Jonathan Haswell / Cast: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Jonas Kaufmann, Ildebrando D'arcangelo / BBC - Decca

UPC 044007433126

MADE IN THE UK

REGION 0 NTSC DVD

AUDIO: LPCM Stereo 2.0, DTS 5.1 Surround

SUBTITLES: English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese

TOTAL RUNTIME: 152 MINUTES

Carmen [kaʁ.mɛn] is an opera in four acts by French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3 March 1875, where its breaking of conventions shocked and scandalized its first audiences.

Bizet died suddenly after the 33rd performance, unaware that the work would achieve international acclaim within the following ten years. Carmen has since become one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the classical canon; the "Habanera" from act 1 and the "Toreador Song" from act 2 are among the best known of all operatic arias.

The opera is written in the genre of opéra comique with musical numbers separated by dialogue. It is set in southern Spain and tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the wiles of the fiery gypsy Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties, yet loses Carmen's love to the glamorous torero Escamillo, after which José kills her in a jealous rage. The depictions of proletarian life, immorality, and lawlessness, and the tragic death of the main character on stage, broke new ground in French opera and were highly controversial.

English Summary:

The Royal Opera House mounted this 2007 production of Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, starring Anna Caterina Antonacci, Jonas Kaufmann and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo. The Royal Opera Chorus and The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House provide musical accompaniment, with Antonio Pappano conducting.

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