Unkillable: Works That Never Fail (No. 4--Bizet's Carmen)

[@Bobbnoxious]

It survives because of the perfection of Bizet's craft. Brahms and Tchaikovsky couldn't stand each other, but "Carmen" was the favorite opera of both. Richard Strauss kept Bizet's score on his piano and said he never stopped learning from it. The piece was just built to last.

[@timyork6150]

It is so sad that Bizet died aged 36 only a few weeks after Carmen's first performance thinking that his opera was a total failure.

[@quaver1239]

Ooh, how I love listening to you, Dave! Even when I can't agree with what you say. You always, but always, make me smile. Utterly therapeutic. Thank you!!

[@joncheskin]

Melody is a great way to make a piece unkillable, it is interesting that some composers simply get an amazing inspiration and come up with stuff that becomes iconic and therefore indestructable. I believe that there is a special combination of genius and inspiration that produces this, and that it is difficult to rationally identify the source of this.

[@mgconlan]

I love "Carmen." When Nietzsche had his falling-out with Wagner he embraced "Carmen" as his favorite opera, I suspect because in so many ways it's Wagner's opposite: a realistic opera dealing with realistic characters in believable situations, including the sorts of crimes real people commit instead of the stupid ones that drive the plots of things like "Il Trovatore." I've often thought of "Carmen" as the first film noir, even though films didn't exist when it was composed. It's also occurred to me that we're with Bizet where we would be with Verdi if he'd died right after "Rigoletto": a few operas of promise, one indisputable masterpiece, and then silence.

[@carlconnor5173]

Speaking of the tunes, when I was a kid there was a Utica Club beer ad that used a Carmen tune that got drummed into my head. “We-ee let nature ma-ee-ake the beer, Utica Club, Utica Club … natures own beer UC!” I loved it! I think the Schultz and Dooley steins marched to it, if I recall correctly.

[@dmntuba]

I think Howard Hanson 2 symphony falls into this category 👍

[@matthewbbenton]

There’s a video on KZbin of the final duet of Carmen (from a concert performance) where the mezzo is clearly intoxicated. I have to say, it still sort of works.

[@culturalconfederacy]

Eine Kleine Nacht Musik. I've never heard a bad performance of it. And it's been used in everything from car commercials to cartoons.

[@stepheng9607]

I totally agree. I haven't listened to it for ages but recently put the Grace Bumbry recording on and it reminded me how great it is. Funny enough, it is the only opera I have been to which was totally stopped. The tenor fell over and broke his leg. There was no replacement so we all went home

[@richfarmer3478]

Even the entractes are great tunes.

[@geraldparker8125]

Ah! good choice, dude! Now, for the other unkillable French opera: "Faust"! and you are just the guy to do it justice!

[@pierrevigna]

I saw Carmen in Montpellier in 1999 with singers from the Moscow Helikon Theatre. At the end it was Micaela who stabbed Carmen. It didn’t kill the opera, but boy it was close. Having said that, I agree with you : it is such an amazing piece of music. Thanks for the video

[@thebiblepriest4950]

Did Micaela sing "Vous pouvez m'arrêter"? Interesting that the Russians would want to turn Micaela into a femme fatale too, rescuing her from the obscurity into which she is cast as the opera progresses.

[@michaelpetkovich5058]

What do you think of a series of videos on "miracle" works? That is, works that introduce you to music that you couldn't possibly imagine, but you find totally enthralling. Obvious examples would include The Rite of Spring, Wozzeck, and the Glagolitic Mass. (Miracles could include parts of a work, such as the coda of Bruckner 5.) I should note that I'm a collector who rarely buys multiple versions of the same work - I prefer to search for miracles. I would appreciate it if you harnessed your encyclopedic knowledge to help me (and others?) search for miracles!

[@stephengailey2400]

Carmen appeals to a wide range of 'tastes' and seems forever fresh.

[@kyuujo80]

I dont know if this is the right place for demands, but what about a video on top 10 recording venues?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That is an impossible ask, I think.

[@barryguerrero6480]

Well, silly me, I guess. There always has to be an odd man out. I think "Carmen" is way too long, so I prefer it in a single highlights disc.

[@antoineduchamp4931]

The Habanera, both sung and danced, is the most seductive piece of Opera ever written.. to people at the time it was an outrageous piece, since it depicted a woman of loose morals (a tart) who worked in a cigarette factory. BTW.... she did NOT behave as a woman was supposed to behave in the period in which it was written. The tunes, every one of them, are sans pareil.

[@reamartin6458]

Please review the awful Soggy toast that is vikagard olafsson goldberg. He’s been running the Glenn Gould script and now he’s receiving worthless platitudes from prepaid critics. Honestly I can’t stand the guys playing …just wanted to rant / obviously you don’t have to review it. Thanks for not selling out ;)

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I do have it and plan to hear it, then we'll see.