poster
Bizet Carmen
First aired on Jan 1, 1967
60%

Genres: Drama, Music

This spectacular opera film was taped in 1967 and is based on the 1966 Salzburg Festival production directed by Herbert von Karajan himself, who also conducts the fabulous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The production features the three greatest exponents of their respective roles at the time: Grace Bumbry’s magnificently seductive-toned Carmen, Mirella Freni’s ineffably lovely, touching Micaëla and Jon Vickers’s thrillingly manic-depressive Don José. On its release the film was hailed by Die Presse, (Vienna) as a “unique artistic event”, while Le Monde felt that Karajan’s production brought “a whole new dimension” to the opera, “combined with a magisterial interpretation”. A classical and utterly dramatic approach to probably the world's most beloved opera – Karajan’s Carmen is as much a delicacy for opera fans as it is a perfect starter for newcomers.

Featured Cast: click image to view more
Grace Bumbry | Carmen
Jon Vickers | Don José
Mirella Freni | Micaëla
Justino Díaz | Escamillo
Julia Hamari | Frasquita
Olivera Miljakovic | Mercédès
Featured Crew
crew image
Herbert von Karajan | Director
crew image
Prosper Mérimée | Novel
crew image
Herbert von Karajan | Conductor
crew image
Jürgen Jürges | Camera Operator
crew image
Herbert von Karajan | Stage Director
crew image
Georges Wakhévitch | Costume Design