Opera Bites: 'Carmen' enchants audience

By Barb Herbert

The high-definition broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday will be what is probably the most famous opera ever written -- Georges Bizet's "Carmen." The performance will begin at noon at the Town Plaza Cinema in Cape Girardeau.

When "Carmen" premiered at the Opera Comique on March 3, 1875, it was a disaster. The audience was upset by the realistic portrayal of sensuality and rebelliousness. They considered Carmen, the heroine of the opera, to be an immoral villain. One reviewer called her a "wild animal." Bizet died shortly after "Carmen" premiered so he never knew that his opera would soon become the most popular and beloved of all operas.

Carmen is a Gypsy. She works in a cigar factory outside of Seville, Spain. When she sees the soldier Don Jose she thinks she might like to fall in love with him. He is immediately enchanted by her, and this enchantment leads to the ruination of his life. For a while, Carmen and Don Jose seem to be happy together, but then Carmen meets Escamillo, a famous matador. She thinks she might like to fall in love with him, too.

The last act of the opera takes place outside of the bullring in Seville. Don Jose confronts Carmen about her relationship with Escamillo. She tells him she loves the bullfighter and is tired of him. Jose is infuriated and stabs her to death.

I have been to Seville and seen that famous bullring. Its exterior is mustard yellow and white. It is a beautiful building and was the first round bullring to be built in Spain. It is modeled on an ancient Roman amphitheater. The infamous cigar factory is now part of the university in Seville, and all the beautiful Gypsy girls who worked there are gone.

If you have friends who say they don't like opera, urge them to see this one. It is fabulous, and, of course, they will recognize most of the music.

Elina Garanca sings the role of Carmen, and Roberto Alagna is Don Jose.

Barb Herbert of Cape Girardeau is an opera lover and host of KRCU's "Sunday Night at the Opera."