Bizet Carmen

Bizet Carmen

164 mins | Drama, Music | Jan. 1, 1967

This spectacular opera film was taped in 1967 and is based on the 1966 Salzburg Festival production directed by Herbert von Karajan himself, who also conducts the fabulous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The production features the three greatest exponents of their respective roles at the time: Grace Bumbry’s magnificently seductive-toned Carmen, Mirella Freni’s ineffably lovely, touching Micaëla and Jon Vickers’s thrillingly manic-depressive Don José. On its release the film was hailed by Die Presse, (Vienna) as a “unique artistic event”, while Le Monde felt that Karajan’s production brought “a whole new dimension” to the opera, “combined with a magisterial interpretation”. A classical and utterly dramatic approach to probably the world's most beloved opera – Karajan’s Carmen is as much a delicacy for opera fans as it is a perfect starter for newcomers.

Bizet Carmen

164 mins | Drama, Music | Jan. 1, 1967

Bizet Carmen
This spectacular opera film was taped in 1967 and is based on the 1966 Salzburg Festival production directed by Herbert von Karajan himself, who also conducts the fabulous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The production features the three greatest exponents of their respective roles at the time: Grace Bumbry’s magnificently seductive-toned Carmen, Mirella Freni’s ineffably lovely, touching Micaëla and Jon Vickers’s thrillingly manic-depressive Don José. On its release the film was hailed by Die Presse, (Vienna) as a “unique artistic event”, while Le Monde felt that Karajan’s production brought “a whole new dimension” to the opera, “combined with a magisterial interpretation”. A classical and utterly dramatic approach to probably the world's most beloved opera – Karajan’s Carmen is as much a delicacy for opera fans as it is a perfect starter for newcomers.
Producers Cosmotel
Original title Bizet Carmen
Directors Herbert von Karajan
Writers Prosper Mérimée

Cast

Grace Bumbry

as Carmen

Jon Vickers

as Don José

Mirella Freni

as Micaëla

Justino Díaz

as Escamillo

Julia Hamari

as Frasquita

Olivera Miljakovic

as Mercédès

Robert Kerns

as Moralès

Anton Diakov

as Zuniga

Kurt Equiluz

as Dancaïre

Milen Paunov

as Remendado

Mariemma

as Dancer at Lilas Pastia's Cortijo