D.fter the success of summer 2021 with Cavalleria Rusticana, clowns And Aida, on Rai 3 the opera season with the cycle The great opera at the Verona Arena. Born from the collaboration between the Arena and Rai Cultura, it counts three appointmentsairing from tonight at 21.20. It starts with Carmen by Georges Bizetwhich will follow in the coming weeks The Traviata And Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi. The landlord will be Luca Zingaretti.
Carmenplot and cast of Bizet’s opera
Performed for the first time in 1875 in Paris, Carmen it is one of the best known operas in the world. Set in 1820 in Sevilleat the center of the story there are Sergeant Don José (played by Brian Jagde) and gypsy Carmen (Clémentine Morgaine).
The first act opens with José intent on courting Micaela (River Guild)but the romantic moment is interrupted by the arrival of the beautiful Carmen, who sings the famous one Habanera, attracting the attention of all present, except that of the sergeant. When in the factory where she works as a cigar maker she commits a heinous murder, she is pointed out as guilty.
Once in the cell, she asks José to free her. The sergeant gives in to his charm and allows her to escape, but she will pay for this moment of weakness with arrest. A month later, in the tavern of Lillas Pastia, Carmen is intent on dancing in the company of Frasquita (Caterina Sala) and Mercedes (Caterina Dellaere) and rejects the advances of bystanders, in particular of bullfighter Escamillo (Luca Micheletti). Also, he confesses to friends that he has in love with Joséfresh out of prison.
The escape and the duel between José and Escamillo
The man reciprocates the feelings and decides not to show up at the barracks for the appeal. He then joins Carmen and they flee together with the smugglers. In the third act, the scene moves to the mountains, inside the den where they hide. Their relationship, however, is starting to show signs of abating. Quarrels are the order of the day and the union is destined to end.
Blame not only for differences in character, but also for a tragedy that is about to hit their lives. The cards predict a near death for both of them. While in, Escamillo and José compete in a duel to compete for Carmen’s lovewho now has eyes only for the bullfighter.
During the struggle, the gypsy has time to divide them and thus avoid the prophecy from coming true. It is of little use, in reality, because the ax of death falls on José’s mother, who is about to expire. The sergeant runs off, but promises Carmen that she is not over here and she will come back for revenge. In the fourth and final act, we return to Seville. The city is buzzing with bullfighting and the crowd is eagerly awaiting Escamillo.
Luca Zingaretti, host of “Carmen”, on Rai 3. (Ennevi / Parole and surroundings)
Carmen’s death
Carmen gives in to the bullfighter, ignoring the warnings of her friends. In fact, Don José is nearby and it would be advisable to act with caution. When the two ex-lovers find themselves facing each other, José asks his beloved to get back together. However, the gypsy has no intention of retracing her steps and, in front of the clear refusal, the sergeant begins to threaten her.
The woman responds by throwing at him the ring he had given her some time before. These are moments of great tension, in which the anger of the protagonists mixes with the screams of the audience, exalted by the deeds of Escamillo. In the general chaos, the tragedy takes place: José grabs the dagger and kills Carmen. Soon after, he turns himself over to the police.
The actor Luca Zingaretti on the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival 2021. (IPA)
Luca Zingaretti and the tribute to Franco Zeffirelli
During the three evenings, Luca Zingaretti will be a sort of side narrator. He is entrusted with the task of tell anecdotes, curiosities and background related to the three works. “I have enthusiastically accepted this invitation to participate in such a beautiful operation,” she commented. «Beautiful for the contents and beautiful for the intentions, which are those of sharing the emotions and the beauty of an art such as opera“.
Also, remember that the opera “born popular” and, for this very reason, “It must remain a common heritage and continue to be part of the cultural and social DNA of our country”. Heritage that must be preserved and enhanced. “See thousands of people from all over the world, of all ages, in that magical place that is the Arena of Veronaassisting in religious silence (…) is a unique emotion », he concludes.
To embellish Bizet’s work, the tribute to Franco Zeffirelli. The direction and the setsin fact, they are those of the Tuscan director. A precise choice, however celebrate him 99 years after his birth and to remember the indissoluble union with opera. In this regard, the Carmen of Bizet was the first work he staged at the Arenawhile The Traviata was the last.
The other appointments
The appointment with opera returns Thursday 28 July with The Traviata And Thursday 4 August with Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdthe. In order not to break the pathos and allow the public to live a unique experience, the three works will go aired without commercial breaks. The television direction is entrusted to Fabrizio Guttuso Alaimo.
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