With a young directing duo and a young cast, the Dutch National Touring Opera presents La tragédie de Carmen, on October 31st and November 1st. This adaptation of Carmen was made by director Peter Brook in 1981. The show marks the 100th anniversary of the theater of Hengelo.
La tragédie de Carmen is based on the novella Carmen by Prosper Mérimée and the libretto of Bizet's popular opera Carmen. The music theater play tells the story of the gypsy Carmen, the soldier who falls for her and the toreador who complicates this relation. This version is cruder than the opera by Bizet, with a smaller orchestration.
Unlike in Bizet's opera, Carmen has a husband in this adaptation (Garcia). Choral scenes are absent, but spoken dialogues are there, as in the original version by Bizet.
Gabel and Romy Roelofsen realize the play with their theater company Het Geluid Maastricht. They work closely with costume designer Rebekka Wörmann, set designer Davy van Gerven and lighting designer Stijn van Bruggen. Violinist and conductor Bas Wiegers is the musical director, who leads the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra.
A cast of young singers plays the various roles. The main character is played by Anna Traub (member Dutch National Touring Opera Ensemble). Denis Yilmaz sings Don José and Simon Wallfish is Escamillo. Francis van Broekhuizen plays Micaëla and Sylvain Meret portrays Carmens husband Garcia. Corneliu Ganae (Lilas Pastia), Hendrik Aerts (Zuniga) and LIsanne Sanders (young Carmen) complete the cast.
The two shows of La tragédie de Carmen take place in the Rabotheater Hengelo, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary.