L' Arlesienne

Music: Georges Bizet 

Choreographer: Roland Petit 

Répétiteurs: Luigi Bonino, Jean-Philippe Halnaut 

Stage Design: Rene Allio, Christine Laurent 

Premiere: January 23rd, 1973 

NBC Premiere: November 10th, 2005, Peking University Hall

Synopsis of L' Arlesienne

Two young lovers Federico and Vivetta from Provence are about to hold their wedding ceremony. It should be the happiest day for these two families, whose relationship by marriage rests on the consent of those young people when they were only small children. Vivetta is drowning in the happiness of this incoming marriage, and feels incomparably proud. Yet Federico is indifferent and despondent: his heart has been on the girl from Arles.

At this moment, this girl in love is more and more attracted to Federico, while Federico has already adopted an indifferent attitude towards those around him. He is desperately searching for the image of the girl from Arles. He seems to see her image dancing with everyone around him. His jealous heart is like a red banner blocking his eyes. The ever-waiting Vivetta discovers that Federico's feeling for her is already lost and tries to win his heart back. However, Federico's soul seems to be separated from his body. His eyes are as cold as stone, but his heart is dancing crazily. The buddies of the couple push the two into the bridal chamber, which is as black as a grave, while the world outside is as bright as an oil painting by Van Gogh. Suddenly, a scream comes from the room. Unable to contain his longing for the girl from Arles, Federico has leapt out the window.

Carmen

Music: Georges Bizet 

Choreographer: Roland Petit 

Répétiteurs: Luigi Bonino, Jean-Philippe Halnaut 

Stage Design: Antoni Clavé 

Premiere: February 21st, 1949, Paris Roland Petit Ballet, London

NBC Premiere: November 10th, 2005, Peking University Hall

Synopsis of Carmen

Scene One: Female workers at the cigarette factory

The female workers at the cigarette factory arrive at the square and join the crowd. 

People hear a loud cry: it is Carmen fighting with a female worker. 

Don Jose appears to drag them apart, and is ensnared by Carmen's beauty. 

Carmen evaded Don Jose, who, however, closely followed her.

Scene Two: Lillas Pastia's Inn

The interior of an inn, throngs of men and women enter and exit.

Don Jose enters and excitedly sees Carmen dancing. Carmen dances while teasing him.

Scene Three: In a room

It is early morning, two lovers dance a long pas de deux. 

In the inn, three smugglers arrive in search of Carmen. 

Don Jose agrees to be their partner, and leaves with them.

Scene Four: A Barn

The three smugglers, Carmen and Don Jose are holed up surveying a road, intent on robbing a traveler. Carmen asks Don Jose to kill a traveler as proof of his love. 

Don Jose is completely enraptured by Carmen, kills a passerby and steals his wallet. 

After dividing up the booty, the three smugglers leave Don Jose, and flee together with Carmen.

Scene Five: The Bullfight

A crowd is waiting for the matador at the entrance to the amphitheater. Escamillo arrives wearing his shinning uniform, and gazes intently at Carmen. As everyone files into the spectator stands Don Jose leaps from the crowd and grasps Carmen, thinking of ripping her away. Carmen contemptuously refuses him. It is time for truth: Don Jose kills a person to prove his manliness, and while Carmen asks no more of him, he has nothing left to give. Just as in the fight between matador and bull taking place inside the stadium, Carmen and Don Jose tear at each other ferociously. In the end, Don Jose stabs Carmen, sending his love to her death.