Bizet's sexy thriller about an ordinary soldier's ill-fated obsession with the ultimate femme fatale is arguably the world's most popular opera. Featuring an unrivaled procession of hit melodies, Bizet's lavish score brims with brilliant orchestration. Moving like a runaway train from its rousing, iconic overture to the shocking, tour-de-force finale, CARMEN packs all the vibrancy and volatility of a bullfight into an irresistible theatrical event. Tickets & info: seattleopera.org/carmen

CARMEN

Luigi Boccherini - Minuetto

Vivaldi:  Four Seasons; Summer - III. Presto

Beethoven Moonlight Sonata Op 27 # 2 Mov 3 Played by Valentina Lisitsa

Hungarian Dance No.5

Johann Strauss II - The Blue Danube Waltz

Hymne à l'amour (Violin)

SAINT-SAËNS: Dance Macabre (Waltz)

Antonin Dvorak~ Symphony No. 9 in E minor op. 95 "From the New World" 

Antonin Dvorak ~ Symphony No. 9, 4th movement - Allegro Con Fuoco

Antonín Dvořák - New World Symphony, 4th Movement

French critics of the 1870s accused Bizet of writing a Wagnerian leitmotif for CARMEN, a tune that returns again and again throughout the opera. This sexy, dangerous melody snakes its way downwards using chromatic notes, notes ordinarily forbidden by the rules of western harmony. We first hear it interrupt the bustling good humor of the overture, and then again when Carmen tosses her flower at Don José. But it isn’t a true leitmotif, which would probably be much shorter and less obvious and would change its shape each time it turns up. Instead, it’s a very simple and effective French musical device, known as an “idée fixe” or “obsession” and representing the fateful bond between Carmen and Don José. George Manahan conducts the orchestra of Seattle Opera. 
Photo by Elise Bakketun

CARMEN: Death Theme

Latvian mezzo-soprano Zanda Švēde makes her Seattle Opera debut singing the title role in CARMEN. In her famous Act 1 Habanera, Carmen announces her perverse philosophy of love to an admiring throng: "Love is a wild bird, a lawless child. If you love me, I don't love you; and if I love you, watch out!" Giacomo Sagripanti conducts the chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera.

ZANDA ŠVĒDE Sings Carmen's Habanera

Ginger Costa-Jackson returns to Seattle Opera in the title role of CARMEN. In her famous Act 1 Seguidilla, she sings about the pleasures awaiting her--and a theoretical lover--at her friend Lillas Pastia's tavern in Act 2. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts the orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Philip Newton.

GINGER COSTA-JACKSON Sings Carmen's Seguidilla

Russian baritone Rodion Pogossov returns to Seattle Opera as the amusingly narcissistic bullfighter Escamillo in CARMEN. In his famous "Toreador Song," Escamillo, in this production a fantasy of '50s cool, sings about how great it is to be a bullfighter. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts the orchestra and chorus of Seattle Opera. Photo by Philip Newton.

RODION POGOSSOV as Escamillo

Frederick Ballentine saved the day at Seattle Opera last weekend, flying in from Berlin at the last minute to sing the role of Don José on opening night when the scheduled tenor was indisposed. This exciting young American tenor made his Seattle Opera debut in 2017 in THE MAGIC FLUTE, and returns in 2020 to star in CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD. In Act Three of CARMEN, he tells Carmen (Ginger Costa-Jackson), Micaëla (Vanessa Goikoetxea), and everyone else onstage that he will die before he leaves Carmen, whom he now considers his wife. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts the orchestra and chorus of Seattle Opera.

FREDERICK BALLENTINE as Don José

British tenor Adam Smith makes his Seattle Opera debut as Don José in CARMEN. In his famous "Flower Song" this deeply conflicted young man tries to explain to Carmen his experience of going to prison for her sake, obsessing about her, trying to make himself hate her, but finally giving up and admitting to himself that all he wants is to be hers entirely. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts the orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Philip Newton.

ADAM SMITH as Don José

A live recording from the Memphis Repertory Orchestra's debut CD release concert on March 2, 2013. The concert was given in the brand new Nancy Crosby Theater in the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Memphis, TN. 
Will Haapaniemi - Violin
William R. Langley - Music Director

http://memphisreporchestra.bandcamp.com
http://memphisreporchestra.com

Night on Bald Mountain

Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera is a leading American opera company. The company presents the classics of the European repertoire as well as new works of American opera. Frequent productions of Wagner's RING, beginning in 1975, established the company's worldwide reputation. Seattle Opera usually presents five opera productions each year.

CARMEN: Death Theme

Seattle Opera

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