Carmen - From the opera stage to a cultural icon

The lecture will examine the evolving portrayal of Carmen across three works: Prosper Mérimée’s 1845 novella, Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera, and Peter Brook’s 1981 La Tragédie de Carmen. These interpretations reflect changing artistic forms, cultural attitudes, and audience expectations over a century.

Carmen's depiction varies significantly, influenced by the social and psychological contexts of each era, reflecting society's views on female autonomy and desire. Similarly, Don José’s character transforms from Mérimée’s conflicted narrator to Bizet’s romantic soldier and Brook’s brutal figure, shaping the tragic narrative.

The discussion will focus on how dramaturgical choices and character dynamics are shaped by cultural contexts, highlighting societal resistance to female independence and evolving notions of morality. Carmen, as a cultural symbol, is continually redefined.

Supported by video excerpts and passages from the novella, the lecture aims to  foster a deeper understanding of how literature, music, and theatre interact, and at times conflict, in constructing gendered narratives.