History of flamenco written by a flamenco guitarist Synopsis and libretto for the complete opera The flamenco music and dance of southern Spain developed when Romani traditions mingled with those of the local population, including many descended from the North African “ Moors.” The famous Danse bohème from the second suite translates literally as “Bohemian Dance,” a way of referencing the Romani people-colloquially known as “Gypsies”-who came to Spain by way of Eastern Europe.
That dance style from the region of Aragon is actually native to northern Spain, rather than the southern region of Andalusia where Carmen takes place, but we can grant Bizet artistic license in his geography. The Aragonaise from the first orchestral suite captures the essence of a flamenco dance with its strong triplet beat and jangling tambourine.
Later Bizet’s friend Ernest Guiraud responded to popular demand by extracting the opera’s highlights into two orchestral suites, published in 18. He died at the age of 36, three months after the premiere of Carmen. He spent his short adult life mostly occupied with operas, planning as many as 30 but leaving only six intact. Georges Bizet had been a precocious student, writing an effective symphony at age 17 and winning the prestigious Rome Prize at 19. Carmen contains some of the most celebrated “Spanish” music ever written-even though its composer was French. Set in Seville, the opera Carmen details the romance between a soldier and a Gypsy girl. After each performance, mix and mingle with the Fellows and fellow concertgoers with a complimentary cocktail reception. This information will only be available online, which you will be able to access after the event at Click here to tell us what you think of this new format!Įncounters concerts span approximately one hour and feature engaging narration from the stage, providing context and history for the music. We invite you maximize your experience by clicking here for early access to the concert’s expanded program notes with additional resources and artist biographies. **We’re experimenting!** Encounters are one-hour, intermission-less evenings hosted by Jamie Bernstein. Hear what happens when these famed composers trade in their patriotic compositional pursuits and embrace the panache and sultry sounds of Latin America! With the fiery dances of George Bizet’s Carmen and the tantalizing melodies of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol, favorite musical icons transport audiences south for an unforgettable raucous adventure. France, Germany, Italy and Russia are known for their unmistakable musical styles and the masters that embraced and championed them.