Music and Time Annotation << Back The Image of Carmen in the director’s reading by F. Zeffirelli O.A. Privalova The subject-matter of this article is researching of F. Zeffirelli’s innovative interpretation of the world opera masterpiece «Carmen» by G. Bizet, staged in 1978 in Vienna state opera. Here were analyzed not only characters’ well-established personal qualities, but also those which appeared at staging process. The director turns to the dramaturgy of P. Merimee’s novel and G. Bizet`s opera, as well as intertextual relations with other works that translate the history of Carmen. With the actors Zeffirelli sharpens the main details of characters’ images, demanding a full integration and the utmost organicity of the performers. The special attention was focused on detailing the main characters’ psychological qualities, their verbal and non-verbal communication, and analyzing the emotional component of the “syllable”. Italian maitre marked a new approach in the vision of Carmen, contrasting with any earlier perusal. Zeffirelli allows the viewer to see not just the Bizet`s gypsy with her national and social aspects of personality, but also the genuine, rebellious, loving and sacrificing heir of the law of calles. Keywords: G. Bizet, P. Merime, F. Zeffirelli, E.V. Obraztsova, short story, opera, opera direction, performing analysis, image. Contacts: E-mail: ladyolgaprivalova@gmail.com Pp. 26-32.