"Toreador" From Bizet's "Carmen"

It is in act two of Bizet's opera "Carmen" that we find Carmen and
her band of gypsy smugglers resting and having fun as Carmen sings a
merry melody which inspires all those about her to dance with joy.
Carmen, for her part is waiting the arrival of Don Jose, who has been
under arrest since he allowed her to escape from prison while on
watch. It is precisely as Carmen is waiting that we first hear about
Escamillo, the celebrated bullfighter of Spain at time; who just
happens to be arriving with all the fanfare of a star. It seeming as
if everybody is waiting his arrival with great anticipation as they
cry out "Viva Escamillo".Escamillo, for his part arrives on the scene
and immediately captures Carmen's attention who is captivated by the
gallant bullfighter, as he is not only impressive in his good looks
but in his manners and class along with his elegant attire. Escamillo
singing the aria "Toreador" which mentions his fame and how love is
waiting for him where ever he goes, "Toreador, le amor te attend". As
he is in fact adored by the ladies, who on many occasions find
themselves in attendance at the bullfighting arena; admiring his
performances which are quickly becoming the source of legend.Escamillo
continues to sing his aria and as he does he notices Carmen, who
quickly becomes the object of his attentions. Escamillo starting to
look in to her eyes, as he caries on with his aria while several of
the ladies in the audience join in as he sings about how he has to be
on his guard because love is waiting for him. It in fact being during
this aria that Escamillo and Carmen fall in love though this would
have to wait due to their having other plans yet they have made a
strong impact on each other.As for the aria "Toreador", it is one
which requires a bass-baritone to go along with its merry melody which
is light but allows one to feel that this is not the voice of a tenor.
The aria "Toreador" in many ways or at least in my opinion is similar
to "La Donna E Mobile" from Verdi's "Rigoletto", as it captures the
happy mood of the gallant playboy; who is carefree. As he appears to
live but for the pleasures of life which most definitely do not
exclude the charms brought on by the ladies of beauty who seem to
follow his every move. This perhaps being another similarity between
these two arias, as they are both sung by characters who do not seem
to allow themselves to be disturbed by anything as they merely go
through life.In conclusion, I would say that the aria "Toreador", is
definitely one of the highlights of the opera "Carmen" as it manages
to capture the playful spirit of the bullfighter, who in his attitude
toward life is as devil may care as he is toward death. It being this
element which he faces every time he gets in the arena to perform the
art of being both a bullfighter and matador. As for myself, personally
I would love to see the opera "Carmen" with my friend Marcela Vanmak,
who in my stories and poems; I have dubbed "Mar Vaglia" in tribute to
the graceful lady of talent she is.