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Gran Teatre del Liceu: Carmen

About the Event

Experience opera like never before in this astonishing performance of masterworks by Bizet at Barcelona's remarkable Gran Teatre del Liceu.

About the Opera
'Carmen' is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet, based on Prosper Merimee’s novella of the same name. The work's premiere at the Opera‐Comique in 1875 attracted controversy, as the public was not accustomed to seeing the life of the lower classes being shown on stage without artifice. However, within 10 years, the tragic and passionate 'Carmen' was recognised for its groundbreaking dramatic and musical choices, and has enjoyed immense popularity ever since.

About the Composer
Georges Bizet devoted his relatively short life to musical drama. The opera 'Carmen', the crown jewel of his oeuvre, remains one of the most frequently performed operas in the world. Born in 1838 into a musical family, at the age of 4 young Georges could already read music and play the piano, and six years later he enrolled at the Paris Conservatoire. After finishing his studies, Bizet won the prestigious Prix de Rome for his cantata 'Clovis et Clotilde', allowing him to work solely on his own compositions for five years. He spent four rather carefree years in Italy from 1857 to 1860 travelling, composing and developing his talent. Returning to Paris, he stuggled to achieve recognition for his music. In order to make a living, he gave private lessons, composed light music and made arrangements of piano works by other composers. Bizet was a virtuoso pianist and once impressed Franz Liszt with his performance of one of the elder musician's piano works, but he remained adamant about his intention to compose music, rather than perform professionally.

In 1872 he wrote two operas, -'Djamileh' and 'L’Arlesienne' — which were received very coldly but now are considered early examples of Bizet’s artistic maturity. Shortly before his death in 1875, 'Carmen' premiered in the Opera Comique, its gritty realism and provocative themes shocking the audience, and reviewers. Nonetheless, the opera's notoriety quickly turned to fame, and Georges Bizet now is one of the most famous opera composers in history.

About the Venue
The Gran Teatre del Liceu is the most prestigious opera house in Barcelona, and one of the biggest — and most important — in Europe. Founded in 1847 by the Philodramatic Lyceum of Montesion, with the aim of promoting musical education, it has since had numerous incarnations. The original building could not accommodate a large audience, and subsequent episodes — fire in 1861, and anarchist riots in 1893 — necessitated a number of reconstructions. In 1994 the theatre was totally rebuilt and equipped with modern technology after another fire. The improved and enlarged theatre opened again in 1999 with Puccini’s Turandot.

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