fyglia

Carmen, a tempestuous opera written by Georges Bizet, is set in the city of Seville, Spain. Carmen is sexy and capricious, and freely taunts the soldiers around her saying she will love or discard whom she chooses just as she pleases. But, after attacking another woman at the cigarette factory with a knife Carmen has to use her seductive skills on her guard, Don Jose, to escape going to prison. Passion between Don Jose and Carmen, and Escamillo, a celebrated toreador who is infatuated with her, leads to jealousy, violence and death. Rinat Shaham with her sublime singing dominates the bull-fighting arena as the provocative and alluring Carmen, while Dmytro Popov portrays Don Jose with a perfect mix of naivety and mad desire, his rich tenor rolling out across the bay. Andrew Jones gives a strong dramatic presence as Escamillo, and Nicole Car, one of Australia's best young operatic voices, is the sweet Micaela. With the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and conductor Brian Castles-Onion, a gritty set design, sumptuous bold costumes, stunning choreography, and the inestimable direction of Gale Edwards and Bizet's glorious opera is brought to life like never before in this second Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.

Bizet is more than Carmen. In his opera Les pêcheurs de perles The Pearl Fishers you find melodies to die for and not only the vocal music is beautiful, but also the orchestral and ballet pieces too. The opera includes "Warhorse" romance in every tenor's repertoire: "Je crois entendre encore", the tenor-baritone duet "Au fond du temple saint". The tenor "has the most beautiful rom ances, some of which are nothing less than exceptional, and able to ensure Bizet's eternal fame" Corriere della sera.

Passion, jealousy, and betrayal take center stage at London’s Royal Opera House in a spectacular production of the world’s most popular opera. Bizet’s Carmen is packed with some of the best-loved and memorable music in all of opera. In this characteristically vivid and vibrant stage production by Francesca Zambello, beautifully filmed in 3D by Julian Napier, Seville is brought to life with ranks of soldiers, crowds of peasants, gypsies and bullfighters – as well as a magnificent horse, a donkey, and even some chickens! This spectacular RealD and Royal Opera House production features a supremely talented cast, gripping drama, and Bizet’s energetic and passionate score. It is truly a musical event to remember! Carmen in 3D was premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in February 2011, and this recording marks the world’s first complete opera on 3D BluRay.