Carmen Festival

On Tuesday, PolyU hosted an opera “Carmen Wong”, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of George Bizet’s Carmen. 

It was a small production, with loads of good music.  I understand some of the performers are PolyU students. 

Earlier, I watched a couple of movie screenings as part of the celebration.  In September, there was the 2003 Spanish drama movie, by Vicente Aranda.  The story was based on the original 1847 novella by Prosper Merimee, who was French.  Not the famous operatic adaptation by Bizet from 1875. As in the novella, the author is portrayed as a French writer who finds the “real” Carmen in early 19th century Spain. 

Even earlier, there was also the 1983 Spanish romantic musical film directed by Carlos Saura.

That one was also adapted from Merimee’s novel.  The film follows modern dancers as they re-enact Bizet’s tragic love story in their personal lives.  

Many years ago, I watched the 1984 musical movie Carmen, directed by Francisco Rosi.  Julia Migenes was Carmen, Placido Domingo was Don Jose.  

That movie got me hocked on Carmen.  The music, the passion, the tragedy. Sometimes I wish I can write stories like that.  But surely I do not wish to die like that.