Carmen
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Georges Bizet, a French composer born in 1838 to a well-known vocal instructor, created the opera that has lasted centuries and has captivated audiences with its raw emotion and pure passion. 'Carmen' was composed in 1873-1874 libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy. It was first performed on March 3rd, 1875 at the Paris Opera Comique.
The character of Carmen has been said to be based on a woman Bizet and his librettists met during a trip to Spain when Bizet was 27 years old. In a small tavern, the young men met a swarthy woman named Carmencita. Her appearance and her vivacious personality captivated the men and they drew her picture. Later when seeking for inspiration, Bizet thought about Carmencita, and began to tell her story. They shortened her name to Carmen, since the story was set in Paris not Spain. However, unbeknownst to Bizet, who was a linguist, the word carmen in the Latin language means song of evil, and the word carmen in his native tongue of French meant charm. To combine the two definitions would in a sense describe the character of Carmen perfectly...