Rosa’s turn
“Unlike Ms. Garanca, Ponselle was among the many Carmens who have tried some real dancing.”
Why is La Cieca not surprised that one of the few intelligent and detailed surveys of the dramatic element of the Met’s new Carmen should be written by a dance critic? [NYT]
I thought this was a very intelligent review by Macauley. I also think that the idea that Jose is a “bastard” is a modern reinterpretation of the role. Nowadays we know about domestic violence and the horrifying stalking and abuse that many women have to endure from jealous and obsessed lovers. Too bad it’s clearly not Bizet’s view of Jose, because he gives Don Jose the most beautiful, heartrending music of the opera. His final line, “Ma, Carmen, adoree,” is designed to break hearts, and it’s after he’s committed a horrible act of violence. Bizet makes Don Jose a tragic hero, and that is why tenors are drawn like a moth to a flame to the role.
Saying that Jose is a bastard and Carmen a victim is as wrongheaded as saying Rodolfo is a a silly guy who needs to get a real dayjob and Mimi is a little tramp. It is possible to look at the bohemian lifestyle as such, but it’s not supported in Puccini’s music.
Exactly,
Bizet would not have written the Flower Song for Jose if he believed him to be a bastard. The whole tragedy falls apart with that interpretation. Maybe that’s the reason the opera survived but the play didn’t.
Then we also have directors that give Carmen a feminist slant where she is more sinned against than sinning. Why can’t they leave the bloody thing alone. Who’s opera is it anyhow? Bizet’s or some clot of a director? Ditto for all other other composers.
Carmen as a character is a walking ‘white heat’ always on the prowl, not some poor set- upon working girl with just less refined manners.
Don Jose I see as a naive ‘mother’s boy’ who decides to take a chance and quickly finds himself out of his depths.
Well, shoot. The original short story survived, in which DJ killed in the past.
As well,we have had productions where Don Jose is executed by firing squad before the opera gets under way,,,proceeding then ‘in flashback’ . We have had ballet groups turn the music into a modern dance work that takes place in a car repair shop amongst cars. What’s next Carmen being themed as an adjunct to Westside Story? We could have a new all singing & dancing Broadway Carmen….with songss like ‘Rack off Don Jose’, ‘I’m Looking for a Big Thrill in Seville’ and ‘I Can Smell Escarmillo’s Brillantilo in the Air’
…or we might have Carmen Jones?
Indeed we might – and HAVE. Yet another time when a little research might be useful. Carmen was made into a movie…with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein….re-set in the US. Hence, “Carmen Jones.”
So, it’s not as far-fetched as Harry might seem to think!
…and I particularly remember Pearl Bailey: “Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum”.
and here it is :
The whole movie is on YouTube in 10 parts :
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A98EFD54718362DD&search_query=carmen+jones+movie
definitely worth seeing (if time allows)
Hammerstein’s lyrics are superior to the French originals.
Not quite Isadora, but look at the number of YouTube views: