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The date of 12 September and the theatre venue relate to the event announced in the original. The page is not a schedule for a future performance and does not provide information about current ticket availability.
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The Sofia National Music and Ballet Centre and Bulgarian National Radio, in cooperation with the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Rome, with the support of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and under the patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, present “Carmen Collection”, the fascinating and engaging reinterpretation of Georges Bizet’s opera by the Arabesque Contemporary Dance Company, on 12 September at Teatro Argentina. Founded in 1967 and now regarded as an institution in contemporary dance, the Bulgarian company boldly combines tradition and innovation in a performance full of surprises and daring twists. Ballet Arabesque approaches Carmen as a fashion show: a metaphor for the importance of clothes and appearance to a modern, complex woman who is deeply in love with the image of herself reflected in the eyes of the man who loves her. A story of love and death reaching the highest levels of drama is given an almost pop character by the extraordinary costumes, Nikolina Kostova-Bogdanova’s sets and composer Petar Dundakov’s creations. Bizet’s music, rich in colour and contrasts between festive Romani motifs and the mounting drama of the action, mixes explosively with Dundakov’s surprising original compositions, creating a captivating performance that is innovative musically as well. Choreographer Boriana Sechanova has tailored the staging around the extraordinary principal dancer Konstantina Handzhieva, who will parade in an incredible fiery-red dress ten metres long, displaying her skill and technical perfection. Alongside her are Asen Nakov (He) and Adelina Gavrilova (She). Brought to Rome in cooperation with the Bulgarian Cultural Institute and with the support of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, Carmen Collection offers an original view of Carmen, enriched with psychological nuances explored through a collective dialogue between set designers, composers and choreographers. The result is a striking and unforgettable visual impact full of colour and light. The performance is co-produced by the Sofia National Music and Ballet Centre and Bulgarian National Radio.