A quiz for opera enthusiasts

Here's a simple quiz for people who think that Wagner, or Mozart, or Verdi, or Stockhausen, or whoever is the greatest opera composer who ever lived. Not just their favourite composer, whose wonderful operas they want everyone to love as much as they do. Not just a composer with a huge influence on the genre. … Continue reading A quiz for opera enthusiasts →

29. Carmen – Georges Bizet

CARMEN Opéra-comique in 4 acts By Georges Bizet Libretto: Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, after Prosper Mérimée’s novella Carmen (1845) First performed: Opéra-Comique, Paris, 3 March 1875 Reception: Disastrous. Now the third most popular opera in the world. Dossier (characters, musical structure). Contemporary reviews. CHARACTERS Carmen, gypsy (mezzo-soprano)Don José, brigadier (tenor)Escamillo, toreador (bass-baritone)Micaëla, peasant (soprano)Le Dancaïre, smuggler (baritone)Le … Continue reading 29. Carmen – Georges Bizet →

06. Djamileh (Georges Bizet) / La princesse jaune (Camille Saint-Saëns)

DJAMILEH Opéra-comique en 1 acte By Georges Bizet Bizet's fourth opera, set in Egypt Libretto : Louis Gallet, after Alfred de Musset’s poem Namouna (1832) First performed : Opéra-Comique (2e salle Favart), 22 May 1872 STORY DJAMILEH, slave (mezzo-soprano) HAROUN, prince (tenor) SPLENDIANO, his secretary (tenor or baritone) SETTING: Cairo, Egypt Synopsis, based on Piotr Kaminski, Mille et un opéras, Fayard, Paris, … Continue reading 06. Djamileh (Georges Bizet) / La princesse jaune (Camille Saint-Saëns) →