Carmen Opera Extra Credit

I attended a opera titled Carmen on November 1st at Valley Preforming Arts Center at Cal State Northridge. This was a beautiful story about Carmen and her love affairs with Don Juan, Escamillo and other soldiers leading to her eventual murder by her ex lover. This opera musical took place in an area between the border of Mexico and the United States and for such reasons touches on topics of border crossing and smuggling although very lightly.

Something I found to be very exciting is that it touches on the female icons we've discussed ion class as Carmen is supposed to embody La Malinche. In the very beginning of Act 1 a large wall is set up that has an image of a sensual woman with the bottom reading La Malinche. In the opposite side there was an image of La Virgen de Guadalupe with large words reading Las Paredes. Immediately, I thought of how these two images play on the obvious differences of these two female icons in Mexican culture. La Virgen being innocent, motherly and a protector for those attempting to cross the border while La Malinche is confident, sensual and loud but seen in a negative light as a result. Carmen shows these characteristics as she seduced a taken man, in “her betrayal” and her place as a smuggler for those attempting to cross the border. Again I wondered if this was to extend on her portrayal as La Malinche, as she is killed by a man regardless of her independence and strength.

Along with all the references to Mexican culture, Carmen ends the last act, Act 4, with a celebration of Dia de los Muertos where Carmen is murdered. The set was dressed in vivid images of Day of the Dead including some huge props of papel picado, a huge skeleton dancing around and the characters faces covered with catrina masks and flowers. The opera ended with every character singing in their beautiful French voices and bowing to the audience as the audience clapped in esteem.