Bizet`s Carmen Uncovered

Bizet's Carmen Uncovered explores the myths and stereotypes surrounding the opera, examining its first staging, the Spanish contexts in which it was conceived, written, and staged, and the forces that brought it to the Operatic stage. It also explores how the stereotypes of Andalusian-gypsy spectacle, banditry, and the fiestas of the bullfight contributed to the opera's success, and how Bizet and his librettists captured the spirit of Spain.

Format: Hardback
Length: 340 pages
Publication date: 22 January 2021
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Bizet's Carmen Uncovered delves into the myths and stereotypes that often surround this beloved opera by exploring its first staging and the particularly Spanish contexts in which it was conceived, written, and staged. The forces that brought Carmen to the operatic stage were numerous, including the liberation of Spain from Napoleonic rule in 1813, the subsequent emigration of Spanish artists and musicians to form an active community in Paris, and the mid-century mushrooming of interest in visiting Spain facilitated by the establishment of railways.

The first part of the book explores the French fascination with Spain, while the second demonstrates how the travels and writings of Prosper Mérimée, particularly in his novella Carmen, but also in his earlier writings sent back to Paris from his first visit to Spain in the 1830s, were incorporated into the opera. The stories Mérimée incorporated into the fateful tale of the soldier who murders his gypsy lover are explored, as well as the importance of the Spanish background to this tragic tale.

This book explores how the stereotypes of Andalusian-gypsy spectacle, banditry, and the fiestas of the bullfight contributed to the eventual success of Bizet's opera. Bizet, Meilhac, and Halévy, as well as the scenographic team, were able to capture the spirit of Spain so strongly that it seduced opera-goers around the world. It hybridized real Spanish music and French Opera with the essential moments of Spanish life, which were important to Mérimée and his librettists.

The original staging of the opera is used to examine both places and characters, particularly realities and mythologies about gypsies in the nineteenth century. It concludes with the first ways in which the opera reached audiences.

In conclusion, Bizet's Carmen Uncovered provides a comprehensive exploration of the myths and stereotypes surrounding this iconic opera, as well as the Spanish contexts in which it was conceived, written, and staged. It sheds light on the forces that brought Carmen to the operatic stage and how the travels and writings of Prosper Mérimée were incorporated into the opera. The book also examines how the stereotypes of Andalusian-gypsy spectacle, banditry, and the fiestas of the bullfight contributed to the success of Bizet's opera, and how the original staging of the opera was used to examine both places and characters, particularly realities and mythologies about gypsies in the nineteenth century.

Weight: 750g
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783275250