NATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET
51 MAY OPERA EVENINGS

Georges Bizet
“C A R M E N”

17.05.2023

Conductor: Daniele Agiman (Italy)
Director: Nina Naydenova (Bulgaria)
Assistant director: Ljupka Jakimovska, Trajko Jordanovski
Set designer: Elena Ivanova (Bulgaria)
Costume designer: Marija Pupuchevska
Concert master: Jane Bakevski
Choir – master: Jasmina Gjorgjeska
Light designer: Vasil Lisichov
Asst. Conductor – Katerina Stojkovska
Accompanists: Elena Siljanoska, Janinka Nevcheva, Andreja Naunov, Jordan Petrushevski
Stage managers: Ljupcхo Polizov, Dragan Kostadinoviкј, Marko Pavlevski
Prompter: Nevena Georgieva

CAST:
Carmen: Ljubica Vranesh (Serbia)
Don José: Ivan Momirov (Bulgaria)
Escamillo: Giovanni Luca Failla (Italy)
Micaëla: Deshira Ahmeti – Krliu
Frasquita: Katerina Stojanovska
Mercédès: Marika Popovikj
Le Dancaïre: Dragan Ampov
Le Remendado: Dejan Stoev
Zuniga: Ernes Ibraimovski
Moralès: Dragan Ampov

Performing: The soloists, the choir, the ballet and the orchestra of the National Opera and Ballet and
“Pikolo” children’s choir -“Ilija Nikolovski – Luj”- Skopje under the direction of Vesna Dimchevska.

SYNOPSIS

Act I

A square in Seville in front of the cigarette factory. The soldiers of the guard house are impatiently waiting for the change of guard commenting the bustling crowd. Corporal Moralès, who is on duty, notices the village girl Micaëla who is the fiancé of Corporal Don José. She had come to town to bring a letter to Josè from his mother. A bugle signals the change of guard. At the same time as the arrival of the new soldiers lead by Josè, the factory siren signals a break for the workers in the cigarette factory, who join the crowd at the square. Amongst them is the beautiful and coquettish gypsy girl Carmen, who notices José and with a sensual dance and song provokes him by throwing a bunch of cassia at him. Don José acts like he has been ignoring her, but before going back into the factory he takes a long look at the flowers. He is interrupted by Micaëla who draws his attention and gives him the letter from his mother. The scene isб interrupted by a fight between Carmen and another woman, wherefore Carmen slashed her face with a knife. Officer Zuniga instructs José to arrest Carmen, who despite everything seems careless and she starts singing a seguidilla Through her song and dance she promises love to José if he releases her. She promises to meet him in the Lillas Pastia’s inn. José gives in and unties her hands and Carmen escapes. Zuniga sees what had just happened and sends José to jail.

Act II

Lillas Pastia’s inn, a place where smugglers gather. Dancaïre and Remendado, along with their companions Frasquita and Mercédès persuade Carmen to join them in their actions. . But Carmen refuses saying that she is here to meet José, who would be released from jail. Escamillo, the toreador, arrives at the inn with ovations. He courts Carmen, but she refuses and Escamillo promptly leaves. José arrives and they remain alone expressing their love for each other. The scene is interrupted by a bugle calling for the soldiers to dinner in the army barracks. José’s intention of returning to the barracks is interrupted by Zuniga, who enters the inn intent at wooing Carmen. In a fit of jealousy José draws his sword in order to fight Zuniga. The duel is stopped by the smugglers. José has no other alternatives other than to flee with the smugglers together with Carmen.

Act III

A wild and deserted mountainous canyon at night. The smugglers along with Carmen and José are travelling with the contraband However, Carmen has tired of José, without any respect to the sacrifices ha has made. Her new love is Escamillo, the toreodor. José is left alone with the smugglers’ goods. In deep thought he does not even suspect that his fiancé Micaëla is seeking for him, pushed forward by her love towards him and the news of the deathbed of José’s mother. She hides from Escamillo who has come to meet Carmen. José notices him, attacks him with a knife and throws Escamillo on his back, but he is saved from this situation by Carmen and the smugglers. José is furious and attacks Carmen with a knife, but Micaëla stands between them. With enormous effort she persuades José to come with her. As they leave, José swears that he would come back to take his revenge.

Act IV

A square in front of the bullfighting arena at Seville. The crowds cheerfully greet their hero Escamillo. At his side is Carmen in full bliss, proud and happy. Her companions warn her that José is in the crowd, but Carmen ignores their advice. When she attempts to enter the arena to celebrate the victory by her lover she is confronted by José at the entrance. He begs her humbly to return his love . She refuses him with contempt and scornfully throws back the ring that he gave to her. Furious and humiliated, José takes a knife out and stabs Carmen in the chest. Weeping loudly he falls to her chest.