Comments on: Carmen: Victim or Seductress? http://www.utahsymphony.org/blog/2010/01/carmen-victim-or-seductress/ Blog for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:05:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sue http://www.utahsymphony.org/blog/2010/01/carmen-victim-or-seductress/comment-page-1/#comment-2587 Sue Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:16:56 +0000 http://www.utahsymphony.org/blog/?p=536#comment-2587 I see this Carmen as appearing to be confident, but at the root is easily hurt by Jose's indifference and commitment to the military. She was eager to be with him until the castanet song, when he hears the military trumpets and needs to leave. She is hurt by his need to leave her and then after that, she becomes irritated and bored with him. Jose doesn't seem able to understand her needs and insecurities and becomes jealous of her need for emotional and financial security, offered by Escamillo. He retreats into adolescent immaturity, jealousy, temper tantrums and rage. Together, they form a toxic relationship that is doomed from the beginning. But so fun to watch it play out on the stage! I see this Carmen as appearing to be confident, but at the root is easily hurt by Jose’s indifference and commitment to the military. She was eager to be with him until the castanet song, when he hears the military trumpets and needs to leave. She is hurt by his need to leave her and then after that, she becomes irritated and bored with him. Jose doesn’t seem able to understand her needs and insecurities and becomes jealous of her need for emotional and financial security, offered by Escamillo. He retreats into adolescent immaturity, jealousy, temper tantrums and rage. Together, they form a toxic relationship that is doomed from the beginning. But so fun to watch it play out on the stage!

]]> By: Danny http://www.utahsymphony.org/blog/2010/01/carmen-victim-or-seductress/comment-page-1/#comment-2586 Danny Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:52:10 +0000 http://www.utahsymphony.org/blog/?p=536#comment-2586 The problem with going to the source is that it diminishes the interpretations of the librettists and the composer. What we are then left with is some ersatz art set to music. We must instead focus much more on the opera itself for answers. Are there nods to the original novella? Of course. But to lean on it to explain the nature of the characters does a disservice to Meilhac and Halevy, and mostly to Bizet. It is through his musical lens we must interpret Carmen and Don Jose. Carmen is a criminal. She's had a rough life (she is a mezzo-soprano after all) and has developed a cynical and fatalistic edge. It must be difficult to have strong relationships with outlaws when death and prison are so near. Don Jose could be anyone overcome by his passions, blinded by his lust and jealousy. They happened to meet and they pushed each other too far. The beauty is in the details, but for that, I'll be there Saturday. The problem with going to the source is that it diminishes the interpretations of the librettists and the composer. What we are then left with is some ersatz art set to music. We must instead focus much more on the opera itself for answers.

Are there nods to the original novella? Of course. But to lean on it to explain the nature of the characters does a disservice to Meilhac and Halevy, and mostly to Bizet. It is through his musical lens we must interpret Carmen and Don Jose.

Carmen is a criminal. She’s had a rough life (she is a mezzo-soprano after all) and has developed a cynical and fatalistic edge. It must be difficult to have strong relationships with outlaws when death and prison are so near. Don Jose could be anyone overcome by his passions, blinded by his lust and jealousy. They happened to meet and they pushed each other too far. The beauty is in the details, but for that, I’ll be there Saturday.

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