HAVE YOU SEEN CARMEN?

A newly written pixi-opera for CHILDREN inspired by bizet’s “Carmen”
- by birita adela davidsen

“Carmen” is one of the most popular operas ever written, and it is filled with well-known melodies such as the Habanera and Toreador — now translated into Faroese.

This version was adapted to a younger audience, with 16 “Operettas” aged 9–15 singing, acting, dancing and playing instruments.

The play is about a group of performers traveling around telling stories about the famous Carmen, who is said to have stolen the secret licorice pipe recipe from the licorice pipe factory where they all used to work.

The performance lasts approximately 35 minutes.

The Faroese National Stage January 2025
Varpið Culture House February 2025

Photos: HeinesenMyndir
The National Theatre, January 2025

REVIEW

“In the cold darkness, another world opened up to us as the girls and I made our way into Varpið last night. And while the wind played outside, we sat spellbound by every word, every movement, and every note, as the deeply heartfelt and charming young “Operettas” brought the stage to life with acting, instruments, singing, and dancing. Even though they were young, I have rarely experienced such a captivating atmosphere as the one we felt in Varpið that evening.
Sparking children’s and young people’s interest in opera is probably not an easy task. But Birita Adela Davidsen, who wrote the script and directed the performance, deserves all the stars in the world for making the play feel so alive and heartfelt — and in that way also meaningful and relatable for children and young people. It was a funny, moving, and thought-provoking moment together with the girls.
On the stairs in the dark foyer, we forgot all about the weather and the wind and instead let ourselves drift away with melodies such as Toreador and Habanera from the famous opera Carmen by the French composer Georges Bizet. These young operetta-performers opened the door to a beautiful world that I would love to visit again and again. Yes — many more times, hopefully!
Thank you for the experience!”
- Ragnhild Ellingsgaard, Feb. 3rd 2025

Music: Georges Bizet

Playwright: Birita Adela Davidsen

Stage director: Birita Adela Davidsen

Choreographer: Diana J. Hansen

Assistant: Anny Joensen Thorsen

Costumes: Opera.fo

Light design: Alex Sivertsen / Kristinn Akursmørk / Steingrund

Poster: Kjartan Magnussen

Photos: Høgni Heinesen / Eyðbjørn Jacobsen

Print: Control P