Bizet's opera was staged at the Met in a spectacular new production by Franco Zeffirelli earlier this season, and the production's original cast has been reassembled. It stars Waltraud Meier , in a rare excursion out of the German repertoire, as the tragic gypsy temptress; and Placido Domingo , in a role with which he has been closely associated throughout his career. Sung in French.
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, conductor James Levine
Actl
7.30 Life before Carmen
Graham Fawcett discovers that ancient cultures and fascinating women haunted the stories of Merimee, the operas of Bizet, and both of their lives long before either worked on Carmen. Readers
Janet Maw and Christopher Scott.
7.55 Act 2
8.45 The Met Opera Quiz
Presenter William Livingstone invites opera experts Ben Cameron , Albert Innaurato and Speight Jenkins to tackle questions sent in by listeners.
9.05 Acts 3 and 4 Texaco supports the Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network, which is broadcast on Radio 3 through the EBU