Bizet's famous opera Carmen was staged in Hong Kong on
Thursday night as the most important part of the ongoing "le French
May" cultural festival.
All tickets to the four performances starting from Thursday have
already been sold out.
This production featured costumes and stage sets from Toulouse
Theater du Capitol in France under French stage director Nicolas
Joel and conducted by the highly acclaimed Chinese conductor Yu
Long from the China Philharmonic and Guangzhou symphony
orchestras.
During the first performance, the role of Carmen was
performed by world famous French mezzzo-soprano Annie Vavrille,
world renowned Hong Kong tenor Warren Mok played the role of Don
Jose, best acclaimed Chinese baritone Liao Chang Yong played the
role of Escamillo.
The Opera Hong Kong Chorus and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra
joined the cast.
The first performance was highly confirmed by the audience by
warm applause.
The performance was sung in the original French, with English
and Chinese subtitles.
Carmen is reputed to be the most famous opera in the
world and is certainly one of the best loved of all operas.
Jointly organized by the Consulate General of France and
Alliance Franchise for fourteen years, Le French May is now the
biggest French arts festival in the Asia-Pacific region, and has
grown into one of the most important cultural events in Hong
Kong.?
(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2006)
