‘My Carmen shows solidarity among women’

A curious approach from mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb, who sings Carmen in the new Glyndebourne production:

‘She is a freedom fighter­, but I also perceive her as a true feminist. For example, in the fight scene where she is supposed to engage with Manuelita, she actually conspires with her friends in the tobacco factory to stage a fake fight, allowing her to escape. This demonstrates solidarity among women, rather than competition and aggression….

‘My aim is to present a multifaceted Carmen to the audience—a fighter, a survivor, and the epitome of honesty. She is lively and charismatic, yet she marches to the beat of her own drum. She refuses to let any man, group, or societal norms define her or dictate her beliefs. I endeavor to bring a Carmen to the Glyndebourne stage that is raw, honest, powerful, and, above all, true and I look forward singing it in front of this special audience.’

The post ‘My Carmen shows solidarity among women’ appeared first on Slippedisc.