The first performance of the 150-year-old original Carmen in Vietnam

The opera Carmen is loved by millions of audiences around the world - Photo: BTC

The opera Carmen by Georges Bizet premiered on March 3, 1875, at the Opéra-Comique.

Although this play is 150 years old, its message is still fresh, a declaration of freedom and individuality.

Why bring Carmen back to Vietnam?

According to the organizers, Vietnam is the first country in Southeast Asia to perform the original Carmen , promising to bring interesting experiences to viewers.

Techcombank is the exclusive sponsor of the event, with support from the Royal Theatre of Versailles, the Palazzetto Bru Zane French Romantic Music Center and the Rouen Normandie Theatre. These are also units that contribute to the preservation and restoration of classic works of art.

Compared to Milan (Italy), Paris (France) or New York (USA), Hanoi - Vietnam is not a locality with a developed opera art scene.

But Techcombank brought the original Carmen to Vietnam, leaving many people wondering.

Ms. Thai Minh Diem Tu - Marketing Director of Techcombank - explained:

"We always appreciate works of art and want to give customers the opportunity to enjoy more masterpieces and cultural heritage of humanity.

We hope to bring a quintessential experience worthy of the title, a musical space where the audience can fully feel the spirit of Carmen of the 19th century, while contributing to preserving and spreading timeless artistic values."

Techcombank's choice to bring the original Carmen to Vietnam demonstrates its direction and affirms Techcombank Private's international stature through events and activities associated with world cultural heritage in recent times.

"If music and art are the source of life for the soul, then Techcombank is an attractive menu for customers. The two nights of Carmen are also Techcombank's gratitude to customers.

We hope that Carmen will be an investment for the soul, for interesting experiences," Ms. Nguyen Van Linh - Deputy Director of Techcombank's retail banking division - affirmed.

The opera Carmen is reproduced exactly note by note - Photo: BTC

Recreate Carmen as original as possible

Carmen is considered one of the 20 masterpieces of world opera. The artists performing the original Carmen in Vietnam symbolizes cultural thinking, creating connection and preserving heritage, the quintessence of world art.

The organizers said that the process of recreating the opera Carmen in the spirit of the first performance 150 years ago was not simple.

When restoring, the crew made the most meticulous and rigorous requests to accurately reproduce every note as it sounded at the Opéra-Comique Theatre in 1875.

Original fabric samples from the last century are recreated based on lost materials and patterns.

The organizers also restored 19th-century oil and candle stage lights, while incorporating modern LED technology, to recreate the classic quality.

Choudens Publishing House also restored the music based on the original scores stored in Paris, ensuring the most original and refined sound in every note.

Ms. Nguyen Van Linh added: "Despite the differences of the times such as technology and stage effects, for the next two performances, we only have one choice, which is to absolutely respect the original work of Carmen ."

Instead of simply recreating the first performance in 1875 in Paris, this restored version will bring Carmen in the same way it conquered audiences in many places around the world such as: New York (USA), Vienna (Austria), Brussels (Belgium), Stockholm (Sweden), Milan (Italy), London (UK)...

The Vietnamese version of the opera Carmen promises many interesting things - Photo: BTC

According to the organizers, the artists participating in the opera Carmen are all famous artists.

That is the artist Heloise Mas who won the first prize for Woman's Voice at the 2013 Concours International de Chan de Marmande . She also received the OFQJ (Office Franco-Quesbecois pour la Jeunesse) award for the best French artist in the opera genre. In Carmen , Heloise Mas plays the role of Carmen.

Artist Julien Behr plays Don José, a name that has appeared frequently at famous theaters such as Opera de Paris, Opera de Lyon, Teatro la Fenice...

The play Carmen will be performed two nights in Hanoi on April 24 and 25.

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HOAI PHUONG