Reimagining 'Carmen'
On this day in 1875, "Carmen" got its first performance in Paris. It was a disaster. Critics and the public panned it, and near the end of the run, the Opéra Comique had to paper the house to boost ticket sales. It wasn't until performances in Vienna later the same year that the opera took its first steps on the the road to ubiquity.
The opera has been filmed nearly 40 times already (not counting DVDs of productions), but on Saturday, "Carmen" is set to take a giant leap forward when a Royal Opera production opens as a 3D movie at theaters around the world.
In honor of "Carmen's" birthday, Colorado's Central City Opera asked, via Twitter, for readers' favorite adaptation of the opera's music.
Above is a keeper: Elmo & Denyce Graves performing in "Opera Lullaby," backed up by the Sheep Chorus.
Keep reading for a few of the more clever reimaginings of the Habanera we found on YouTube. There are plenty more out there, so please do let us know what your nomination is.
Rufus Wainwright borrows the distinctive bass line in his 2003 song "Vibrate" from his album "Want One"
Bobby McFerrin & Aziz Mustafa Zadeh dim the lights and make it one for the ladies. Bonus awkward hug or no hug moment at the end.
Pop Quiz: Only three operas have been performed more times at the Met than "Carmen." Can you name them? Advanced players can go for the Top 10. If you're stumped, we'll have the answer in the comments section below soon.
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-- Marcia Adair
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Though it's an odd choice, I have to think Gounod's Faust is one of them. It was the go-to hit back in the day. Other two: La Boheme and La Traviata?
Posted by: Brian H | March 04, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Some of the favorites we've found are the Gilligan's Island's Hamlet crossover ("Is it to be..or not to be..."), the animated film UP, the above Sesame Street with Elmo as well as the operatic orange sketch and Sam Ramey's with "L", the Muppets above and as part of Beverly Sill's episode with "Pigoletto."
Posted by: Central City Opera | March 04, 2011 at 12:39 PM
La Bohème, Aida, La Traviata
Posted by: Lister | March 04, 2011 at 01:08 PM
I'm guessing:
La Traviata
La Boheme
Don Giovanni
In my nightmare world it would be:
Aida
Turandot
Actually there aren't any other Met productions I dislike enough to list
Posted by: John G | March 04, 2011 at 01:15 PM
La Bohème
Aida
La Traviata
Carmen
Tosca
Rigoletto
Madama Butterfly
Faust
Pagliacci
Cavalleria Rusticana
Posted by: Database researcher | March 04, 2011 at 01:49 PM
La Boheme
Aida
Carmen
Posted by: Sarah Malone | March 04, 2011 at 02:02 PM
Bohéme
Aida
Tosca
Posted by: Bob D | March 04, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Looking good everyone. Some great guesses here. I'll post the answer in the comments on Sunday night. Until then, keep guessing!
@Central City - oooh, I'll have to check Youtube for the Up clip and the Beverly Sills Muppets one. Thanks for telling me about them!
Posted by: Marcia Adair | March 04, 2011 at 07:21 PM
La Traviata
La Boheme
Tosca
Posted by: Nigel McBain | March 04, 2011 at 07:25 PM
Hmmm -- I would imagine;
La Boheme
Trav.
Barber of Seville
Or something like that....
Posted by: Barihunk | March 05, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Madame butterfly
La traviata
La boheme
Posted by: Fuzzy | March 06, 2011 at 07:09 AM
Thanks for playing along everyone.
The 10 most popular operas at The Met are:
(1217) La Bohème
(1115) Aida
(960) La Traviata
(958) Carmen
(907) Tosca
(830) Rigoletto
(828) Madama Butterfly
(733) Faust
(712) Pagliacci
(671) Cavalleria Rusticana
@John G - Don Giovanni is 16th with 514 perfs and Turandot is way down at 28th with 286 perfs
@Barihunk - Barber of Seville is 13th with 584 perfs
Posted by: Marcia Adair | March 06, 2011 at 09:33 PM