Carmen

Passionate, moving, dramatic: George Bizet's Carmen returns to the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma in the historical 1970 version, with sets and costumes by Renato Guttuso.

Based on the novella of the same name by Prosper Merimée, the opera in four acts by the French composer, with a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, debuted on 3 March 1875 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris: what is considered today a masterpiece, at the time was a failure due to its extreme realism and scandalous plot. 

A contemporary story and an unmissable musical masterpiece about the sensual Gypsy cigar seller with an independent character. Desired by all men, the beautiful Carmen falls in love with Don José, to whom she sings the famous habanera L'amour est un oiseau rebelle, a typical Cuban dance, or the Seguidilla, an Andalusian dance of gipsy origin. Exuberant and lively - «free she was born and free she will die!» - the woman will lose her life murdered by Don Josè, unable to accept the end of their love.

On stage, directed by Fabio Ceresa, at its debut at the Rome Opera House, is a prestigious cast - including the star Gaëlle Arquez, for the first time on the Costanzi stage, alternating with Ketevan Kemoklidz in the title role, Joshua Guerrero and Jorge de León as Don José, Erwin Schrott and Andrei Bondarenko as Escarmillo, Mariangela Sicilia and Ekaterina Bakanova as Micaëla - accompanied by the Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro dell'Opera, conducted respectively by Ciro Visco and Omer Meir Wellber.

Photo: Carmen Act IV 1969-70, ph. Historical Archive of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma