Saturday’s broadcast performance of Carmen by the Met was perhaps the best that I have seen. Overall, it was immensely enjoyable. Garanca simply is the best Carmen that I’ve seen. Frittoli was good. The last-minute replacement for the toreador was outstanding. On the other hand, I do have some relatively minor quibbles. I prefer the Met’s original production, both because of the greater amount of available space for the performers and also because the more recent setting didn’t please me as much esthetically. Roberto Alagna’s acting was superb, but I greatly prefer the voice of the younger Domingo who we experienced on the DVD at UL. I also prefer a Micaela who is younger and more naive.
Categories
Exercise & Aging (4)Learning to Love Opera (7)
Uncategorized (1)
Windows on Russian Culture (4)
Archives
August 2010 (1)July 2010 (2)
June 2010 (1)
January 2010 (1)
December 2009 (1)
RSS Feed
University Assisted Living
1:33 pm
I agree with Richard. This was an exciting, memorable performance. I agree with all of his comments, except for not having another production to compare it to. I can’t really imagine a better Carmen, and the toreador was outstanding. To think he stepped into the role with notice only that morning. I agree that Michaela would have been more convincing as a younger, more naive version. My husband had agreed to accompany to Carmen, and then we learned the tickets were sold out. We were both disappointed, and are planning to go together to the reprise on February 4th.
9:11 am
Sat. was outstanding. I just saw the movie production. That Carmen I found more evil and manipulative. Hard to believe she had the capacity to love even briefly. Garanca blew me away. Besides her magnificent voice, outstanding beauty and fabulous body she was believable. Usually if I have seen Domingo in a role I am disappointed in any other tenor, but I thought Alagna was wonderful. Really liked his voice and thought his acting was great. My friend Syd was less enthusiastic. Agreed that Carmen was the best he had ever seen but not so pleased with Alagna or the production. Agreed with all the above about Micaela. However, the movie one was cloyingly sweet.