Difference between revisions of "Carmen"
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There have been many adaptations of the opera, including ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1943) by Oscar Hammerstein, ''[[La Tragedie de Carmen]]'' (1983), a 90-minute version by [[Peter Brook]], various ballet versions and numerous films.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen#Adaptations]. | There have been many adaptations of the opera, including ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1943) by Oscar Hammerstein, ''[[La Tragedie de Carmen]]'' (1983), a 90-minute version by [[Peter Brook]], various ballet versions and numerous films.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen#Adaptations]. | ||
| − | A notable South African adaptation is ''[[U-Carmen]]'' () and the film version | + | A notable South African adaptation is ''[[U-Carmen]]'' () performed by the multiracial South African company, [[Dimpho Di Kompane]] at the Spier Amphitheatre in English (before going on tour to the US, Australia, Canada, Turkey and the UK) and the subsequent award-winning film version (now wholly in [[Xhosa]]) called ''[[U-Carmen eKhayelitsha]]'' (2005), both directed by [[Mark Dornford-May]]. The text for the film was translated into Xhosa by performers [[Andiswa Kedama]] and [[Pauline Malefane]], and it contained music from both the original opera and traditional African music. |
== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
Revision as of 06:03, 6 December 2019
Carmen is a French opéra comique[1] in four acts by Georges Bizet (1838-1875)[2].
Contents
The original text
Based on the novella Carmen[3] (1845) by Prosper Mérimée (1803-1870)[4], with a libretto by Henri Meilhac (1830-1897)[5] and Ludovic Halévy (1834-1908)[6], it tells Don José, who is seduced by the fiery gypsy Carmen and thus abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties. When he loses Carmen's love to the glamorous torero Escamillo, the healous José kills her.
Carmen was first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3 March 1875 and the first audiences were shocked and scandalized by its transgression of the usual conventions, but the work gained international acclaim over the next decade went on to become one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the classical canon.
Translations and adaptations
There have been many adaptations of the opera, including Carmen Jones (1943) by Oscar Hammerstein, La Tragedie de Carmen (1983), a 90-minute version by Peter Brook, various ballet versions and numerous films.[7].
A notable South African adaptation is U-Carmen () performed by the multiracial South African company, Dimpho Di Kompane at the Spier Amphitheatre in English (before going on tour to the US, Australia, Canada, Turkey and the UK) and the subsequent award-winning film version (now wholly in Xhosa) called U-Carmen eKhayelitsha (2005), both directed by Mark Dornford-May. The text for the film was translated into Xhosa by performers Andiswa Kedama and Pauline Malefane, and it contained music from both the original opera and traditional African music.
Performance history in South Africa
1893-4: Performed in its original by the Lyric Opera Company on tour in South Africa, including performances in the Opera House, Cape Town.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_(novella)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosper_M%C3%A9rim%C3%A9e
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Bizet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Meilhac
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludovic_Hal%C3%A9vy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-Carmen_eKhayelitsha
D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.203-205
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