Legendary French opera to be performed on Vietnamese stage

One of the world's most acclaimed operas, Carmen, will be brought to the Vietnamese stage at the Hanoi Opera House on March 14, 15 and 16.

The artists who will perform the opera Carmen in Hanoi. Photo VNOB

The newly staged opera will incorporate innovative elements to enhance traditional values while offering audiences a unique experience not seen in previous performances, according to artist Phan Manh Duc, Director of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB).

Under the direction of Hong Kong's Cindy Leung, the two-hour classical opera will be performed in French.

There have been seven different versions of Carmen, which were staged by the Hong Kong director. The 8th version of Carmen is said to be "tailor-made" for local and foreign audiences in Vietnam and to fit the social and cultural context of the country.

The four-act opera Carmen was first presented by French composer Georges Bizet in 1875. Set in southern Spain, the opera tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naive soldier who is seduced by the wiles of the fiery gypsy Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties, but loses Carmen's love to the glamorous torero Escamillo, who kills her in a jealous rage. The depiction of proletarian life, immorality and lawlessness, and the tragic death of the main character on stage, broke new ground in French opera and were highly controversial.

The photo was sourced from “Carmen’s Death”, Act IV (Taken by Daniel Azoulay, at Florida Grand Opera, 2016).

The Vietnamese version of the Carmen opera tells the story of romantic devotion and commitment in a brutal yet vibrant world, as well as the strong identity and personality of a modern woman. Carmen is portrayed as beautiful, seductive, and willing to fight and die for love. Humanistic aspects of the real world are superbly incorporated into a classic masterpiece.

The audience's experience would be all the more exceptional as Carmen is not simply an original opera performed in any other nation in the world. It will present Carmen's passionate love story in a Spanish context with colorful costumes and dynamic choreography, adding to the visual appeal of the performance.

Leading Vietnamese opera singer Dao To Loan will perform as Micaëla, artists Huy Duc and Kieu Tham as Escamillo, and the renowned international ensemble Hanoi Voices will appear together with artists from the VNOB.