carmen in new york

[SABgurlie24]

i was just wondering if anyone knew of any performances of the ballet carmen that were scheduled to be in new york or near it? i'd really like to see it, and always miss when traveling companies do it. thanks

[Mel Johnson]

Which one? There are several.

[SABgurlie24]

any carmen by any company. I just want to see a ballet to Bizet's music and the basic storyline. could you tell me about some of them?

[Mel Johnson]

Oh, OK.

Roland Petit had a "Carmen" set to the Bizet Carmen Suites. As with all Petit, it was a sophisticated theater piece and used to be a mainstay of the Royal Danish Ballet. They did a terrific job with it. I don't know who's doing it these days.

The Bolshoi and other Russian companies had Carmen as a showpiece for Maya Plisetskaya. The Bizet music was rearranged by her husband, Rodion Schedrin. It didn't turn me on. The Ballet Nacional de Cuba did a version using this music, too, with choreography slightly rearranged by choreographer Alberto Alonso in order to fit Doña Alicia. ABT used to do this ballet, too. At the moment, it's been shortened and tightened a little bit, and sometimes tours with the many secondary companies that tour from Russia these days.

[vila]

There's also the more controversial one by Mats Ek (there is a dvd version on sale in europe by the culberg ballet )

it was also danced with sylvie guillem at the royal opera in london last season

you can read a rehearsal diary on http://www.royaloperahouse.org/ballet/inde...ighlight=carmen

hope this helps.

[Mel Johnson]

That's right; I had forgotten about the Ek version. I just don't know if anybody's bringing it or any other "Carmen" to New York in the coming year. All I can recommend is to keep an eye on the Sunday NY Times, and see the company display ads there.

[SABgurlie24]

thanks

[atm711]

Not to forget (although I would like to)--Matthew Bourne's "Car Man".

[Mel Johnson]

Please, let's restrict the discussion to things that are still ballet!;)