"Carmen" - opera and legend

The most famous opera, written by the French composer Georges Bizet, is "Carmen". Her story was not easy, and this remarkable work did not immediately resonate with the public and critics. After all, "Carmen" - an opera, where one of the fundamental principles of plotting in the opera theater was violated at the time . For the first time on the scene were not aristocrats, but ordinary people with their sins, passions, vivid feelings.

The premiere of the performance took place on the stage "Opera Comique" in Paris on March 3, 1875. The ensuing reaction made him feel the bitter disappointment of his creator. Georges Bizet, the author of the opera Carmen, was considered one of the talented composers of his time. He created his opera on top of his career. The libretto was written by L. Halevy and A. Meliak in the novel by P. Merimee. The audience divided into the premiere performance, opinions divided. The first performer of the role of the Gypsy Carmen was the singer Celestine Galli-Mathieu. She was able to perfectly convey the courage of the heroine. Some admired this, and led other spectators into indignation. In newspapers, the opera was called ugly, scandalous and vulgar.

Nevertheless, "Carmen" is an opera whose genius was appreciated much later, and she was really loved. This was said by our classical composer P.I. Tchaikovsky, he called it a masterpiece. One of the most memorable melodies with which the opera is filled is the aria of the heroine "In love, like a bird, wings," the composer created it, relying on the Habanera melody and the seductive description of a gypsy in a novel by P. Merimee. In addition to this aria, truly the people became the "March of the Toreador", Suite No. 2.

Due to its atypicalness for that time, the opera turned into a popularly loved play. In "Carmen" describes the life of ordinary people, and at the same time, the opera is not devoid of romanticism. If you describe the summary of the opera "Carmen", then you can put it in several phrases. The plot is based on the third chapter of the novel of the same name P. Merimee, and it is about love. The performance takes place in Spain, so the composer filled the opera with classical Spanish melodies: flamenco, pasodoble, habanera.

The main character and novels, and operas are the Gypsy Carmen. Opera represents it as a relaxed, free, not recognizing laws. A gypsy can change the destinies of all who are with her nearby. She attracts the attention of men, enjoys their love, but does not consider with their feelings. According to the plot, a beautiful gypsy woman works at a cigarette factory. Because of the fight, she gets to the police station. Her guard was Sergeant Jose. She could fall in love with him and convince her to let her go. For the sake of the gypsy, Jose was deprived of everything: positions, respect in society. He became a simple soldier. Carmen collaborated with smugglers, flirted with the bullfighter Escamillo. Jose was bored with her. He tried to return the lover, but she abruptly announced to him that it was all over. Then Jose killed his beloved Carmen, so she did not get anyone.

J. Bizet very seriously experienced the failure of the premiere performance "Carmen". Opera, later recognized as a masterpiece, Took away a lot of strength from the composer. Soon after the premiere, 3 months later, the composer died at the age of 37. At the threshold of death J. Bizet said: "Jose killed Carmen, and Carmen killed me!".

Nevertheless, the story of free life, unbridled passions and accidental death on the ground of jealousy for many years attracts spectators to theaters. And to this day "Carmen" with success goes on the most famous opera stages of the world.