Stream of Consciousness writing...

... on the "Habanera" from George Bizet's opera "Carmen".

I simply love this piece of music! It is opera, yes, but it is not what everybody considers to be a strictly classical composition, apart from the fact, of course, that it was not written in the period which we call classical. We hear classical instruments, a choir and a very professional voice but it has also an atmosphere of dancing. It is not exactly Salsa but it does still make me think of short skirts and flirty women. At the same time I imagine Carmen is wearing a long skirt. This is important because she can use it to play with, which could be seen as symbolic of the way she plays with men. When I sang this aria during my singing lessons and particularly in the final exam at university, it was really fun being this "femme fatale". Being soft and mean at the same time felt just as thrilling as acting as though every single man was in love with me - which is pretty much the case in the plot of the opera. At least Carmen is the typical erotic and self-confident woman. But we must not forget how tragic this figure also is! While singing the "Habanera" she is of course perfectly alright and content, but in the end she will be nothing but dead. So what do we learn from this? Feeling sexy, erotic and kind of omnipotent is brilliant for five minutes, when you sing only this aria, or for two hours, when singing the whole opera. But for my whole personal life? No, thank you!