Why The Royal Opera love performing Carmen

Find out more: www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-ev...
An Introduction to Barrie Kosky's new production of Carmen for The Royal Opera, streamed online on 2 July 2019. Find out more at www.roh.org.uk/productions/ca...
Director Barrie Kosky, revival director Julia Burbach, conductor Julia Jones and cast Aigul Akhmetshina (Carmen), Bryan Hymel (Don José) and Luca Pisaroni (Escamillo) share their experiences of rehearsing and performing in Bizet's greatest opera.
Award-winning director Barrie Kosky provides a refreshing perspective on this well-known opera. He explores Carmen's ever-changing nature - marked by her series of contrasting costumes - and her vitality through dance. The pre-recorded voice of a narrator (perhaps Carmen herself) ensures that we experience the whole story from her perspective, and the production's unique performing edition (by Michael Rot) offers a chance for audience members to hear music Bizet omitted from the opera's first performances.
Carmen had only lukewarm success at its 1875 premiere - perhaps due to its unconventional subject - but soon became immensely popular, and has remained so. Its glorious score boasts a host of wonderful melodies, including Carmen's sensual Habanera and Seguidilla, Don José's tender Flower Aria and Escamillo's rousing Toreador's Song. There are also passionate duologues, above all the intense, final confrontation between Carmen and Don José.

[@RodneytheOperaRat]

0:00 *When the music starts the toreadors do morning workouts😂😂😂😂*

[@RodneytheOperaRat]

1:30 *I hear the women swooning😍🩵🤍❤️🌹*

[@earlygirlgabber]

I love Carmen so much, I sang Habanera.

[@INOBT100]

I think Kosky found a very neat way to use both versions of the Habanera

[@ghostgirl_hours]

In love!

[@BoomBoom-sr8nt]

Are the directors former opera singers??? Cause I think they’re not.. they have no understanding of the music itself.. they’re just in their own world 💁🏻‍♂️

[@maribelgonzalez8670]

I loveeeeeee!🌹😊

[@andreaierodiakonou7853]

Amazing 💕

[@cavetreasures5475]

YEAH! AMORE.... :-)!

[@abrahamgutierrez1042]

Yo me quedo con la tradicional producción.

[@OccyDaBoss]

one of the puppet with she play

[@w1bs600]

Me desculpem, mas acho que é a única parte de mim que é conservadora. Ainda bem que mantiveram a música original.

[@RodneytheOperaRat]

*I mean I love the concept of Carmen but this seems lifeless there’s no colors it’s all black and uninspired it’s kind of depressing because the opera of Carmen it’s supposed to be colorful and fun to watch but this is disappointing*

[@kirsiihalainen2858]

Uu

[@lowesonia8551]

When i listen to the repulsive physical aspect he offered in explaining his view of ablablabla. A bit of 30's berlin! A smige of dark Paris. Get rid of the Spanish kitch! And end up with voices part (better to listen just to the sound) I dislike you and your awful mixup production

[@Huaimek861]

I agree , this is a Travesty of Carmen , a total misrepresentation of the opera that robs it of all Panache and fire , all the characters are laid back , robbed of their potential , where is Don Jose , the handsome , naive but dashing young corporal who is bewitched Carmen , Escamillo huge voiced and arrogant , Carmen oozing sexuality and fire , Micaela had no interplay with Jose , her great aria in the mountain wilderness with seemingly no context or action , a lovely voice but uneven singing . Opera House directors should not give Carte Blanc to would be directors to use an opera as a medium to express their way out concepts . Historically opera is supposed to be a visually beautiful spectacle , with wonderful singing and a ballet scene , that transports the audience into a fantasy world . I applaud Covent Garden for bringing opera to the people worldwide , I am immensely grateful to be able to see from Thailand an opera live from the famous Royal Opera , but I would not let any of the people involved in this production near the opera house . The young lady presenter was very good , charming !!!