Carmen is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet, first performed on 3 March 1875. It was not at first particularly successful and Bizet knew nothing of its later success as he died before its initial run was concluded. The opera tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naive soldier seduced by the fiery gypsy Carmen (first played by Célestine Galli-Marié, pictured in costume). José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties, yet loses Carmen's love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo after which José kills her in a jealous rage. The depictions of proletarian life, immorality and lawlessness, and the tragic outcome, broke new ground in French opera, and after the premiere most reviews were critical. Carmen initially gained its reputation outside France, and was not revived in Paris until 1883; thereafter it rapidly acquired celebrity at home and abroad, and continues to be one of the most frequently performed operas. The music of Carmen has been widely acclaimed for its brilliance of melody, harmony, atmosphere and orchestration, and for the skill with which Bizet represented musically the emotions and suffering of his characters.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1652:

Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck established the first permanent European settlement in South Africa at what eventually became known as Cape Town. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town

1793:

French Revolution: The Committee of Public Safety was established, and would become the de facto executive government during the forthcoming Reign of Terror. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_Public_Safety

1808:

John Jacob Astor founded the American Fur Company, the profits from which would make him the United States' first multi-millionaire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jacob_Astor

1893:

The Salt Lake Temple, the largest of more than 140 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was dedicated in Salt Lake City. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_Temple

2010:

Rebels from the Communist Party of India (Maoist) ambushed a Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Dantewada district, India, killing 76 CRPF officers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_2010_Maoist_attack_in_Dantewada

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

lek: (biology) An aggregation of male animals for the purposes of courtship and display. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lek

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

No one could have less faith in the absolute and definitive importance of the work created by man, because I believe that this world is nothing but a dream.   --Gustave Moreau https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gustave_Moreau