Opera Carmen

To speak of Carmen (written by the French composer Georges Bizet) is to speak of the most well-known opera of all times. It is a story full of passion, filled with songs that have transcended the history of music. Based on the novel Carmen by Prosper Mérimée, it is impossible to believe that the opera was a total flop when it opened in Paris in 1875. Bizet died three months later, never knowing of the huge success of his work.

Carmen is an opera in four acts, set in Sevilla, and tells the tragic love story between Carmen and Corporal Don José Morales and his rival, the bullfighter Escamillo. The first act takes place in a plaza in Sevilla next to a cigar factory. It relates how Carmen, a gypsy who works in the tabacco factory, is apprehended and taken to jail because of a fight. On the way to prison, the guard Don José falls under the spell of the gypsy girl. The second act is in the interior of the tavern of Lilias Pastias. Carmen celebrates with Don José in a festive, dance-filled scene, attended by the bullfighter Escamillo, who also falls in love with her. In the third act, in the mountains, Escamillo appears, searching for Carmen, and finds Don José, who he challenges to a duel. After swearing his love, Don José leaves Carmen. In the fourth and last act, outside the bullfight plaza, Don Jose’s jealousy reaches its limit when he sees his beloved on the arm of the bullfighter, and running after her, he stabs her. Does a gypsy curse come true?

Carmen is a project with more than 12 months of planning, involving more than 200 local people, who make up the chorus, the ballet, and other figures; as well as the presence of the excellent Stage Director Ragnar Conde, visiting from Mexico City. There is also a team of makeup and costume professionals, as well as stagehands and actors. All of these people, creative and talented, are carefully chosen by the Fideicomiso Garante de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán.

It is worth noting that the Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán has presented other top level operas, such as The Elixir of Love (2004), Yuzuru (2005), Rigoletto (2006), Madame Butterfly (2007), La Traviata (2008), The Barber of Seville (2009) and Don Pasquale (2010), but Carmen represents a new achievement for Mérida. Celebrating the presentation of the first opera completely created in the state places Yucatán in a privileged position in the cultural world.

Concert Director: Juan Carlos Lomónaco. Carmen: The beautiful Carla Dirlikov, daughter of a Bulgarian father and Mexican mother, and Cultural Envoy of México, where she teaches music to poverty-stricken children and orphans. Don José: Rodrigo Garciarroyo. Escamillo: Jesús Suaste. Shows on June 11, 13, 15, 18, 20 and 22. Tickets available at Teatro Peón Contreras. Information: 923 7354. www.sinfonicadeyucatan.com.mx

Here is a short clip from opening night, courtesy of our friends at intheyucatan.com :