Barcelona Flamenco Ballet with the program "Carmen" (by Georges Bizet) (Spain)
The Barcelona Flamenco Ballet (BFB) addresses the timeless myth of Carmen in its new project. This new recreation of Georges Bizet's work introduces innovative flamenco elements that have remained unknown until now. It transcends the traditional concept in which it has historically been classified, adapting it to the realities of today’s modern society. The values that make Carmen a woman of our time, combined with the adaptation of flamenco music and ballet under David Gutiérrez’s signature, place the work into a new paradigm of the universal myth and 21st-century flamenco.
Despite the passage of time, Carmen retains her message of freedom and courage in the face of an unequal world where women continue to fight for their rights. Carmen is the prototype of a woman confronting a hostile and brutal male world; though she does not survive it, she leaves an enduring example for future generations. Carmen is pain, passion, and a cry for freedom—feelings that flamenco art masterfully portrays in its most primal and untamed form. BFB narrates the story written by Prosper Mérimée, delving into the romantic relationship between the gypsy Carmen and the bullfighter Escamillo. Here, the language of flamenco becomes the perfect medium of artistic expression and the ideal thread to convey the passions of the main characters.
The show combines the most modern flamenco singing with original music. Operatic singing and Bizet's music blend traditional sounds with innovative jazz and flamenco nuances. The choreography merges the realms of flamenco ballet with striking tap dance and the refreshing air of contemporary dance.