Stage of the Ages 2024 officially starts on July 6 (Saturday) at 9:00 p.m. with “Carmen” – a ballet production of State Opera Ruse.
“Carmen” was born from the pen of Prosper Mérimée. It has excited directors and choreographers many times since its creation until today. For the first time as a ballet, the story was interpreted by Marius Petipa in 1845.
One of the latest interpretations is by the choreographer Natalia Osipova, who in 2013 offered the European audience her view on the captivating story of Carmen.
The ballet is set to an original musical collage of Bizet’s music – the timeless fragments of his opera, from the Arlesian Suite, complemented by fragments of his little-known symphonic and chamber works. In the light of her choreographic performance, Osipova combines the brightest features of classical and neoclassical dance, passing through the expressive lens of modern dance.
The last production of the author’s performance of the ballet “Carmen” by Natalia Osipova had its premiere in Bulgaria on the stage of the Ruse State Opera House in November 2023.
The ballet “Carmen”, with libretto and stage direction by Natalia Osipova, illuminates the invisible force that fuels Carmen’s spirit, predetermines her life and her death. In the combination of images, the contours of the Fate come to light – strong, irresistible, driving the drama to its fatal end, both respectful with its fearsome presence and fascinatingly seductive.
Like sparks born from the fire of Fate, the souls of all the characters of the drama flash and die. The soul of Jose – hopelessly in love with Carmen, the soul of the Toreador – in love with his own image and the soul of Carmen – in love with life and therefore forever doomed with the judgment of the time in which she is destined to exist.
The ballet performance also includes the orchestra and choir of Ruse Opera under the direction of Viliana Valcheva and with some outstanding soloists – Petya Tsoneva (Carmen), Alexander Krunev (Toreadora) and Petar Kostov (Don Jose).