Opera

Carmen

Georges Bizet

11 Oct, 17 - 17 Nov, 17

Musical conductor: Marc Piollet

Stage Director: Calixto Bieito

Since its premiere in Paris in 1875, Carmen, by Georges Bizet, is one of the most performed operas in history. It has attained mythical status and has been a source of inspiration for great artists of other disciplines: painting, dance, cinema... The Teatro Real programmes it this season with Marc Piollet conducting, with the stage production by Calixto Bieito.

In his Carmen, the Spanish director unveils a story of violence and marginalization, irrepressible sensuality, a battle of the sexes, where the real protagonist is, in fact, domestic violence. Bieito locates the story in Melilla during the 70’s; with a minimalist stage that reveals the most marginal sides of the city. Anna Goryachova, Stéphanied’Oustrac and Gaëlle Arquez will share the voice of Carmen in 18 performances.

Subtitles in

Spanish, English

Opéra comique in four acts

Music by Georges Bizet (1838-1875)
 
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, after the play of the same name (1845) by Prosper Mérimée
 
Premiered at the Opéra-Comique de Paris on 3 March 1875
Premiered at the Teatro Real on 14 March 1888

Production by the Opéra national de Paris

               

Synopsis of Carmen

Act I

Commander Moralès is at the square with the corps of guards. Micaëla, a simple village girl, approaches and asks Moralès for a commander named Don José. Moralès replies that he will arrive shortly for the change of the guard, but Micaëla prefers to leave and return later. Trumpets blaring from the wings announce the arrival of the change of the guard. Followed by a group of children, the soldiers, under the command of Don José, reach the guard post to relieve Commander Moralès’ detachment. Zuniga, a new lieutenant, asks Don José about the cigarette girls who work in the nearby tobacco factory. Don José replies that they are beautiful and of dubious
reputation, but feels no interest in them because he is in love with the young Micaëla. The siren of the tabacco factory sounds, marking a break from work. The last one to appear is Carmen, a seductive gypsy beauty who flirts with all the young men she encounters on her way. Don José is the only one who seems to pay her no attention. While Carmen sings a habanera, all the men try to attract her attention, but she has her eyes set on the indifferent Don José and defiantly tosses him a flower before entering the factory. Micaëla returns to the guard post and gives Don José a letter from his mother recommending that he marries the girl. A commotion inside
the factory brings Don José out of his reverie: a group of workers comment among the shouting that Carmen is fighting ferociously with another cigarette girl and has slashed her face with a knife. Zuniga sends Don José and several soldiers into the factory to arrest the rowdy girls. Faced with the overwhelming evidence accusing her, Carmen is sent to jail in the custody of Don José. On the way, quickly caught up by the seductive bewitchment of the gypsy girl and her promises of love, Don José frees Carmen; she pretends to hit him and makes her escape.

Act II

The tavern of Lillas Pastia. Carmen and her girlfriends, Frasquita and Mercédès, are dining with Lieutenant Zuniga and other officers while a gypsy group plays the guitar and dances. Carmen and her girlfriends soon join the dancing and this inspires the soldiers to prolong the fun by inviting them to the theatre. Carmen refuses the invitation because she wants to wait for Don José who, after being demoted and under arrest for a month for letting her escape, has just been freed. A song and far-away cheers precede the appearance of Escamillo, a famous bullfighter who has just triumphed and who is immediately captivated by Carmen’s beauty. Having declared his
love to the gypsy girl, he departs in the company of the officers just before Dancaïre and Remendado, two local smugglers, enter the tavern and ask Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès to collaborate in a future undertaking. Carmen refuses because she says she is in love with Don José, but on the insistence of her companions, she agrees to convince Don José to desert and join the smugglers. When Don José reaches to tavern, he feels offended by Carmen’s proposition and refuses her, but the return of Lieutenant Zuniga and his brutal confrontation with Don José over Carmen’s favours changes the course of events: the smugglers, taking Don José’s side, disarm
Zuniga and leave him in the custody of the gypsies. Don José, having rebelled against a superior, has no choice but to join them and depart to the mountains.

Act III

While the smugglers prepare to deliver their goods, Carmen, who has already become tired of Don José’s jealous love, reads the cards with Frasquita and Mercédès in order to see the future; for Carmen the only prediction is death. Led by Dancaïre, they all leave the scene while Don José remains behind on a large rock, guarding the smugglers hideaway. From the darkness, Micaëla appears, searching for Don José. The sound of a shot causes her to hide. Don José has fired at an approaching intruder who turns out to be Escamillo. The bullfighter, uninjured and unaware of the identity of the voice speaking to him, tells Don José he has come to look for Carmen because she is no longer in love with her former sweetheart, a defector. Jealousy takes possession of Don José and he challenges Escamillo to a duel to the death with knives. Only the return of the smugglers, who arrive just in time to separate the rivals, avoids a tragedy. Finally, Escamillo leaves. Dancaïre then discovers Micaëla, who informs Don José that his mother is on her deathbed and wishes to say farewell to her son before she dies. Don José leaves with Micaëla, warning Carmen in a threatening tone that he will be back to get her. Carmen ignores his warning and now thinks only of Escamillo.

Acto IV

A square in front of the old bullring. A great tumult precedes the bullfight: a horde of vendors offers their wares to the crowd awaiting the arrival of the bullfighters. The team of assistants soon arrives and after them, acclaimed by the crowd, Escamillo and Carmen. When the bullfighter enters the ring, Frasquita and Mércèdes approach Carmen and warn her that they have seen Don José in the crowd. Carmen says she is not afraid of him and calmly awaits his arrival. Shortly afterward, as she attempts to enter the bullring, Don José blocks her path and tries to convince her to return to him. In spite of all his efforts, Carmen refuses to accompany him and confesses that she now loves Escamillo. The cheers from inside the bullring signalling the bullfighter’s triumph quickly put Don José’s nerves on edge. Carmen,
encouraged by Escamillo’s success, throws the ring given to her by Don José in his face. Don José, blind with rage, fatally stabs Carmen. As the crowd leaves the bullring, Don José, crushed and defeated, falls to his knees next to Carmen’s body.

Carmen

Georges Bizet

application/pdf 5.22 MB

Releases

Patron friends

17 February

2017

Subscribers friend

22 February

2017

Tickets on sale

27 February

2017

Performances

  • Date/hour
  • Space
  • Cast
  • Subscription ticket

15 October 2017

20:00

Main Auditorium

Gaëlle Arquez, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Andrea Carè, Vito Priante, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets W

14 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Anna Goryachova, Eleonora Buratto, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Francesco Meli, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets G

12 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Andrea Carè, Vito Priante, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets Y

11 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Anna Goryachova, Eleonora Buratto, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Francesco Meli, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets E

18 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Anna Goryachova, Eleonora Buratto, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Francesco Meli, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets X

19 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Andrea Carè, Vito Priante, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets F

21 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Gaëlle Arquez, Eleonora Buratto, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Francesco Meli, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets -

22 October 2017

20:00

Main Auditorium

Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Andrea Carè, Vito Priante, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets S2

24 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Anna Goryachova, Eleonora Buratto, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Francesco Meli, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets B

25 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Andrea Carè, CÉSAR SAN MARTÍN, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets A

27 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Gaëlle Arquez, Eleonora Buratto, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Francesco Meli, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets H

28 October 2017

22:00

Main Auditorium

Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Andrea Carè, CÉSAR SAN MARTÍN, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets -

30 October 2017

21:00

Main Auditorium

Gaëlle Arquez, Eleonora Buratto, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Leonardo Caimi, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets Z

03 November 2017

21:00

Main Auditorium

Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Andrea Carè, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets D

04 November 2017

21:00

Main Auditorium

Gaëlle Arquez, Eleonora Buratto, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Leonardo Caimi, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets S1

10 November 2017

21:00

Main Auditorium

Anna Goryachova, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Francesco Meli, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets -

14 November 2017

21:00

Main Auditorium

Anna Goryachova, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Francesco Meli, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets C

17 November 2017

21:00

Main Auditorium

Anna Goryachova, Olga Busuioc, Olivia Doray, Lydia Vinyes-Curtis, Leonardo Caimi, Kyle Ketelsen, Jean Teitgen, Isaac Galán, Mikeldi Atxalandabaso
Subscription tickets V

Parallel activities

Cursos de Formación

What's OnTeatro Real

Storytelling alrededor de la producción del Teatro Real. Septiembre-octubre de 2017

08

September

2017

Enfoques

What's OnGayarre Hall

Encuentro con los artistas de la producción. Viernes, 6 de octubre, 20.15 h. Sala Gayarre. Acceso libre. Aforo limitado.

06

October

2017

20:15

En torno a Carmen

What's OnGayarre Hall

José Luis Téllez desgrana al público interesado las claves de la ópera todos los días de función, 45 minutos antes de la misma. Sala Gayarre. Aforo limitado.

08

September

2017

Los domingos de Cámara

What's OnMain Auditorium

Concierto a cargo de los solistas de la Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real. Domingo, 22 de octubre, 12.00 h. Sala principal.

22

October

2017

12:00

¡Todos a la Gayarre!

What's OnGayarre Hall

El amor es un pájaro rebelde. Domingo 15 de octubre, 12.00h y 17.00h

15

October

2017

12:00

Coloquio en colaboración con la Real Academia de la Historia

What's OnGayarre Hall

En torno a la producción "Carmen" programada en el Teatro Real. Participantes: Carmen Iglesias, Enriqueta Vila Vilar, Juan Pablo Fusi. 16 de octubre, 19.00. Sala Gayarre. 

16

October

2017

19:00

Proyección

What's OnFilmoteca Española

Proyección de Carmen (Carlos Saura, 1983). Int.: Antonio Gades, Laura del Sol. 27 de octubre, 18:00h

27

October

2017

18:00

Proyección

What's OnFilmoteca Española

Proyección de Don Giovanni (1979), de Joseph Losey. 29 de noviembre, 21:45h.

29

November

2017

21:45

Conferencia

What's OnMuseo del Romanticismo

"Carmen de Bizet: contrastes, ambigüedades y contradicciones de una obra maestra"Martes, 17 de octubre, 19.00h

17

October

2017

19:00

Taller Creativo. INSTITUT FRANÇAIS

What's OnVarious

Alrededor de la producción. Carmen: imaginar, dibujar crear... como un verdadero artista. En francés (todos los niveles) para niños de 4 a 8 años. Sábado, 21 de octubre, 11.00h

08

February

2019

11:18

Víctor Ullate Ballet. Carmen

What's OnTeatros del Canal

Del 31 de agosto al 17 de septiembre de 2017.

31

August

2017

news

Ignacio García-Belenguer will preside Opera Europa

- 13 Jan, 2023

Ignacio García-Belenguer, General Director of Teatro Real Madrid, has been unanimously elected after having held th…

See more

A VERY SPECIAL ‘TRAVIATA’

- 30 Jul, 2020

   

See more

PERFORMING OPERA IS POSSIBLE AND SAFE IN MADRID

- 30 Jul, 2020

 

See more

Se cancelan las funciones de la ópera Lear

- 17 Mar, 2020

Madrid, 17 de marzo de 2020.- El Teatro Real, con motivo de la declaración del estado de alarma, procedió el pasado…

See more

Are you an Amigo del Teatro Real yet?

Live the Teatro Real experience beyond its wonderful productions and you will contribute to elevating our institutional project.