Opera on 3 - Bizet's Carmen

Bizet's Carmen Mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina takes the title role and Marcelo Alvarez makes his Met debut as Don Jose, the proud soldier destroyed by his fascination with the femme fatale Carmen, in this live production from New York. Carmen was among the first operas in the 1870s to go against the trend of glorifying heroes and heroines and Bizet's independent-minded gypsy seductress caused much controversy amongst critics of the time. The programme, which also includes backstage interviews with the artists during the intervals, is presented from New York by Margaret Juntwait, with Ira Siff as guest commentator. Carmen ...... Olga Borodina (mezzo-soprano) Don Jose ...... Marcelo Alvarez (tenor) Escamillo ...... Lucio Gallo (baritone) Micaela ...... Krassimira Stoyanova (soprano) Frasquita ...... Rachelle Durkin (soprano) Mercedes ...... Edyta Kulczak (mezzo-soprano) Remendado ...... Juan-Paul Fouchecourt (tenor) Dancairo ...... John Hancock (baritone) Zuniga ...... Jeffrey Wells (bass) Chorus and Orchestra of New York Metropolitan Opera Emmanuel Villaume (conductor).