Carmen

Carmen has always been one of my favourite and I do consider it the quintessential French opera. It is also one opera that is well-served on DVD and record. While this Liceu production is not the best Carmen I've seen, that's between the 1984 and 1967 films, it is a good production and doesn't disgrace the opera in any way. Strictly speaking, I have yet to see a Carmen on DVD to properly do that. I'll be honest that I did miss the authentic sunny backdrops I associate with Spain, where Carmen is set, and that the minimal settings weren't particularly appealing to me. The costumes are better though and are in good keeping with the production's concept. The video directing is crisp and clear though the close ups are not always very flattering, and the sound is great. Calixto Bieito is never going to be everybody's cup of tea, especially if you are a traditionalist, which I am sort of though I don't mind concept productions when done well.

His stage direction here though wasn't so bad. Admittedly, some of his ideas are on the predictable side and feel as though he was incorporating too much of his own style that it swamps everything else. And some of the dramatic scenes do feel a little undercooked as a result, I think the final scene could have sizzled a little more. However, the good news is that, even though some may not like what he does here, this is the most subtle he's ever been- coming from somebody who is notoriously controversial- and he succeeds in keeping the characters intact and not changing them significantly. Credit should be given also that he does something that few other stage directors have done, which is make a dull character like Micaela seem more interesting than she actually is. The production is violent, but considering that there is a violent nature in Carmen that was hardly inappropriate.

Musically, it is just wonderful. The orchestral playing has so much life to it, the energy, verve and character of the score- and there is lots of those in Carmen- are conveyed thrillingly and with a freshness that I have not heard in any other opera production for a fair while. The chorus blend beautifully and do show a strong connection with the drama, which generally on stage is compelling and passionate save the occasional undercooked moment. The conducting is efficient and dynamic, and does nothing to seriously compromise the performers. Of which are of a high standard. Zuniga, Morales, Frasquita and Mercedes are very well characterised and sung with involvement and appealing vocals.

Erwin Schrott has the right charisma and swagger- if not as commanding as Samuel Ramey- for Escamillo, and has a very sturdy and well-produced bass-baritone voice. Thankfully there is none of the attitude of "I only have one aria, then I'll slum it for the rest of the production", which is in a way what the role reads of. Marina Poplavskaya is a very moving, without being timid, Micaela. While her French diction is not the best(though not as problematic as her Marguerite in the Met's Faust), she sings with a beautiful timbre and her Act 3 aria is sung with heartfelt pathos. Roberto Alagna in one of his best roles gives one of his better performances in recent years. The sympathetic, pained and menacing aspects to Don Jose's character are very well met with Alagna, and he sings with great ring and passion as well as better control of pitch. Beatrice Uria-Bonzon is a very sensual Carmen who is full of lust and free spirit, and while she is not as youthful vocally as in the 2004 Orange production- also opposite Alagna- there is evidence of a plummy richness quality.

Overall, a good production if not a first choice. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox