GREAT PERFORMANCES: LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: NEW YORK CITY OPERA: GEORGES BIZET, CARMEN {FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES} (TV)
Summary
One in this series on the performing arts. This installment -- one in a series of live broadcasts from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City -- features the New York City Opera's production of Georges Bizet's "Carmen," conducted by Christopher Keene. The program includes the opera, in four acts, sung in French with English subtitles, and three intermissions during which Beverly Sills, the Opera's general director, and Patrick Watson interview primary cast and crew members. In this production, the nineteenth-century opera is set in early twentieth-century Spain.
The first act begins in Seville, Spain, in 1936 where General Francisco Franco has just launched a revolt against the Spanish government. Law and order are kept by Franco's top soldiers: Zuniga and the naive Don Jose. Meanwhile, Micaela comes searching for Jose, her childhood love. She is followed by some cigarette girls from the local factory, headed by Carmen -- fiercely committed to the Republic. Carmen and Micaela both vie for Jose, but ultimately he chooses to wed the latter, causing a fight to break out during which Carmen gets arrested. Eventually, Carmen escapes from jail and returns to seduce Jose. During intermission, Sills and Watson interview Keene who discusses the following topics: updating the piece; being a "servant" to the composer; the musical challenge of "Carmen"; and bringing a freshness to the material.
The next portion begins with an interview between Sills and Victoria Vergara (Carmen) and Jacque Trussel (Don Jose). Topics discussed include the following: the opera's plot; the differences in the pair's portrayals of their characters from past performances; sexual chemistry onstage; and the difficulty of giving interviews mid-show. In the second act, Carmen and Jose's new found happiness is immediately challenged by the arrival of Escamillo, who is smitten with Carmen. Next, Zuniga enters looking for Carmen as well, and Jose stabs him in a jealous rage. Now a fugitive, Jose is forced to join the renegades and go on a raid, much to Carmen's displeasure. During intermission, Sills, in a pre-taped interview, talks briefly with production director Frank Corsaro about his decision to change the opera's time frame and the critical response to his production. Next, Sills and Watson interview the set designer Franco Colavecchia who briefly discusses his artistic choices for the opera.
The third act begins at the mountain camp of the renegades, where Carmen becomes disenchanted with Don Jose after a tarot card forecasts her imminent death. Meanwhile, Micaela comes to seduce Don Jose, while Escamillo comes likewise for Carmen. A furious Jose wants to fight Escamillo, but Micaela pulls a ruse and gets Jose alone with her. The final act begins as Escamillo and Carmen arrive and profess their love to the onlooking crowd. Lurking in the back is Don Jose, who startles Carmen when she is finally left alone. He tries to win back her love, but she says that their relationship is over. Distraught, Jose stabs her to death.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Edward John Noble Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: September 26, 1984 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 3:25:29
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:78663
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1976-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Richard Baker … Coordinating Producer
- John Goberman … Producer
- Karen McLaughlin … Associate Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Frank Corsaro … Director, Production Director
- Prosper Merimee … Based on the novel by
- Georges Bizet … Music by
- Henri Meilhac … Librettist
- Ludovic Halevy … Librettist
- Christopher Keene … Conductor
- Rosario Galan … Choreographer
- New York City Opera Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- New York City Opera Chorus … Choir/Chorus
- Beverly Sills … Host
- Patrick Watson … Host
- Martin Bookspan … Announcer
- Luis Montero … Dancer
- Jose Bourbon … Dancer
- Victoria Vergara … Cast, Carmen
- Jacque Trussel … Cast, Don Jose
- Marianna Christos … Cast, Micaela
- Robert Hale … Cast, Escamillo
- Thomas Jamerson … Cast, Morales
- Ralph Bassett … Cast, Zuniga
- Carol Sparrow … Cast, Frasquita
- de Vaughn, Alteouise … Cast, Mercedes
- Jerold Siena … Cast, El Remendado
- Robert Brubaker … Cast, El Dancairo
- Jonathan Guss … Cast, Guide