Gypsy Carmen picks soldier Don Jose as her latest conquest, costs him his career, takes up with a toreador while he's in jail, recruits him for the smuggling ring, and foresees her own death.
Director: Brian Large
Conductor: James Levine
First performance at Paris, March 3, 1875
Time: about 1820
Place: Seville and thereabout
I've always wondered why Bizet only had 1 well-known opera, and such a brilliant one at that. Just read that he died 3 months after its premiere at age 37. I wonder at what ages the best operas were composed. G.Gershwin was 37 when Porgy and Bess premiered, and died within 2 years.
Time: about 1820
Place: Seville and thereabout
I wonder if I've ever watched the full opera before. (I can't say that I did today either.) I'm familiar with the story from the non-musical film The Loves of Carmen (1948) with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford, and Carmen Jones (1954) with Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte. Neither is faithful to this story precisely, but together they almost are.
This production is elaborate with an enormous cast. But it's dark and drab. The whole stage has a yellowish cast; the buildings look well-aged, and when red appears in a costume, it's very dark and muted. It's like they imitated some Goya painting(s) that need cleaning. Maybe it's just the quality of the recording medium; this was released on dvd in 2000.
The voices sound remote, as though the mics weren't close enough. I also probably didn't have the volume high enough, but the orchestra was loud enough.
AB is neither young nor beautiful, but she's shaped well, and sells the Carmen persona. JC is good as the weak-willed Don Jose.
Cast:
CARMEN, a gypsy Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, or Contralto : Agnes Baltsa
DON JOSÉ, a corporal Tenor : José Carreras
ESCAMILLO, the toreador Baritone : Samuel Ramey
MICAELA, a peasant Soprano : Leona Mitchell
smugglers
EL DANCAIRO Baritone
EL REMENDADO Tenor
ZUNIGA, José’s captain Bass
MORALES, an officer Bass or Baritone
gypsies
FRASQUITA Soprano
MERCÉDES Soprano or Mezzo-soprano
This might deserve a 9. Maybe after the next viewing.
Met Opera, cond. Levine; 8
