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Bizet’s naive hero, Don José, falls under Carmen’s alluring spell. With Donald Macleod.

Georges Bizet’s story ought to have been a very straightforward one. It was clear to everyone who met him just how brilliantly and excitingly talented he was. He was also fortunate to live and work in Paris, a city laden with musical opportunities in the mid-19th century. This week, Donald Macleod shows how Bizet’s life proved more challenging and event-filled than anyone might have expected – and that success can never be guaranteed!

Throughout the week, Donald also guides us through Bizet’s most celebrated work, Carmen – an opera famous for its Spanish heat, fractured passions and fabulous tunes.

Today, Donald follows Bizet to Rome where, living way from home for the first time, he’s determined to gorge himself on all the many pleasures that Italy has to offer a young man. Plus we reach the second part of Carmen’s Act 1: Corporal Don José plans to marry his sweetheart, but he finds himself unable to resist when the gypsy temptress, Carmen, demands his allegiance.

L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2 (arr. Guirand), IV. Farandole
Musiciens du Louvre, Les, Grenoble Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Marc Minkowski

Te Deum,, III. Te Ergo Quaesumus & IV. Fiat Misericordia Tua
Angela Maria Blasi, soprano
Christian Elsner, tenor
Münchner MotettenChor
Munich Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hans Rudolf Zöbeley

Carmen (extracts from Act 1)
Angela Gheorghiu, soprano (Carmen)
Roberto Alagna, tenor (Don José)
Inva Mula, soprano (Micaëla)
Nicolas Cavallier, bass-baritone (Zuniga)
Choeur 'Les Éléments'
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Michel Plasson

Roma, II. Allegro Vivace & III. Andante molto
Orchestre de Paris, conducted by Paavo Järvi