Vocal score
Compact disc
Carmen, Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Robert Massard, amazon.co.uk
Bizet: Carmen / Prêtre, Cossotto, Domingo, Van Dam, Opera d'Oro, arkivmusic.com
iTunes
Maria Callas & Paris National Opera Theater Orchestra - Carmen: Highlights (USA)
DVD
Bizet: Carmen -- film version [1984], Julia Migenes, Plácido Domingo, amazon.co.uk
Blu-Ray
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Welsh National Opera
CARMEN Bizet
27 February and 2, 4 and 6 March 2010 at 7.15pm
A revival of Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser’s classic production of Bizet’s Carmen with Dublin born soprano Patricia Bardon, finalist in the first ever winner of Cardiff Singer of the World competition, in the title role. Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones sings Don José and David Soar, WNO’s Associate Artist, sings Escamillo.
Carmen Patricia Bardon
Don José Gwyn Hughes Jones
Escamillo David Soar
Micaëla Sarah-Jane Davies
Frasquita Joanne Boag
Mercedes Carolyn Dobbin
Zuniga Henry Waddington
Directors Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser
Set Designer Christian Fenouillat
Costume Designer Agostino Cavalca
Lighting Designer Christophe Forey
Co-production with Scottish Opera
Sung in French with English and Welsh Surtitles
Carmen was first performed at the Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique in Paris on March 3, 1875.
"Much controversy has raged over laterproductions of Carmen, particularly those outside France. In most of them the lengthy passages of spoken dialogue, which were an essential feature of the original Opéra-Comique production, were supplanted by recitatives composed to different words by Ernest Guiraud for the first Vienna production in 1875. Undoubtedly these recitatives altered the whole balance of the opera. The spoken dialogue contains many episodes, suppressed in the recitatives, which filled out the plot of the opera and gave life to the minor characters, among them Pastia and the smugglers. On the other hand, the purpose of these recitatives of Guiraud was to convert Carmen into a grand opera, a laudable aim since in its original form, as an opéra-comique, it could only be satisfactorily given at the Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique in Paris which specialized in works consisting of spoken dialogue and music."-- Edward Lockspeiser in booklet accompanying RCA Victor LP album LD/LDS 6164.
