Carmen

Welcome to Broadcast from the Past! In this episode, we dive into the world of classical opera, back when it was sexy and new. Witness what a 19th-century news broadcast about the glitzy celebrities and stars of the times might have looked and sounded like, followed by a deep historical dive into the facts.

About This Episode

The year is 1875.

Murder, sex, and violence—the Parisian critics are sharpening their pens for Georges Bizet’s newest shocker, Carmen. We go live to the press event where the stars of the Opera-Comique are hosting the event of the season!

Imagine tuning into the evening report only to hear about a scandalous new opera based on every one’s guilty pleasure read from last year. This is Episode 4: Carmen. We continue our series with a fully-acted mini-play, imagining a historical broadcast covering the opera premiere press conference.

Following the dramatic reenactment, we go behind the broadcast taking a look at the research process and historical sources we used to create this unique "news report."

🧭 What is Broadcast from the Past?

Broadcast from the Past is a historical channel where we ask: What if we had television, radio, and instant news coverage for history's biggest events? We bring major historical events to life using unique 'broadcasts' followed by analysis and historical context. Subscribe for a whole new way to experience history!

🔗 Timestamps

0:00 Introduction to Broadcast from the Past

2:07 The 19th-Century News Report (Mini-Play Begins)

15:54 Historical Discussion & Analysis

18:34 Reading List, Acknowledgements and Outro

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