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It had to be translated into Italian before American opera fans would listen to it, but since its U.S. premiere in New York in 1878, Carmen has gone on to become arguably this country's most popular opera.
Opera San José is staging Georges Bizet's classic in the original French, complete with the spoken dialogue that was part of initial libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy. This Carmen debuted at the Paris Opéra Comique in March 1875 and was ill-received by critics and audiences. Bizet died just three months later at age 38.
Following the composer's death, his friend Ernest Guiraud set the dialogue in Carmen to music and added some ballet music, which he drew from other Bizet compositions.
These revisions--and changing social mores--helped popularize the story of the sensual title character, whose seductive powers lead the hapless Don José into a life of violent crime. In Opera San José's production, Malin Fritz and Michele Detwilier alternate in the role of Carmen, and Etsel Skelton and Adam Flowers sing Don José.
Bizet's music also has staying power. "The Toreador's Song" from Carmen is so widely known that it's available as a cell-phone ring tone.
Opera San José presents Carmen Feb. 520 at the California Theatre, 345 S. First St., San Jose. Tickets are $68$88 on opening night (Feb. 5) and $$60$80 (Feb. 620). For more information, call 408.437.4450 or see www.operasj.org.
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