For the longest time I have considered Carmen THE French opera, the story is compelling, the characters(except perhaps Micaela) are vivid and the music is magnificent. I have seen several productions, heard several recordings, and while of the productions I've seen of that this 2002 performance is not my favourite, that's being the 1984 and 1967 films, it is one of the most entertaining and most scintillating productions of any opera I've seen recently. My only criticism really is the sound quality, some of it was so muffled that I had to turn up the volume to hear the singers and this is including Von Otter.
Although this was distracting, it wasn't enough to not make me think so highly of this Carmen. The costumes and sets are very good if sometimes cramped regarding the chorus and pretty authentic, the camera work is interesting and the picture quality is sharp and clear, adding to the effect of the performance. On the visual aspect I do understand why this 2002 Carmen mayn't appeal to all, it is dark on an emotional level and is quite crude and violent, but I personally didn't mind this.
Musically, this Carmen cannot be faulted. The orchestra play with great beauty of tone and plenty of Spanish flavour, the Overture and the Les Voici Chorus are especially exhilarating. Phillippe Jordan's conducting is equally impressive, his sense of tempo are acute throughout, he pays attention to dynamics and he with his open eyes, frowns and what not is very enigmatic to look at if understandably off-putting to the orchestra. The Chorus do have moments where their action is downstage and cramped but they sing with a great sound and at least react well to the action.
There were a lot of great decisions staging-wise. First and foremost, the dialogue. Here there is more dialogue than on various other productions and recordings I've heard and seen. This I loved, as there was not only an opera comique element as well as the inevitable tragic element, but we learn more about the characters and perhaps even are able to follow the story better. I loved Carmen's entrance, it is a very fiery and charismatic entrance.
Not only this, but the Don Jose and Escamillo duel in act 3 is expanded, so we see Don Jose lose and the toreador spares him but is later bested. The children's march song is more reminiscent of a taunt rather than an imitation, but actually this works. Also, the characters here do have distinctive personalities. The only exception is Micaela, who comes across as flat and matronly, but Frasquita and Mercedes are very different to each other, while McVicar's decision to have Morales as a man with an attitude rather than a friendly character is interesting.
The performances are excellent. The weak link for me is Lisa Milne, her singing is beautiful and her Je Dis Que Rien M'Envouvente is moving, but her stage presence comes across as rather meek, and it doesn't help that the character is so flat. I thought Laurent Naouri was fine as Escamillo, the voice has resonance and he is hearty and charismatic even if he is occasionally a tad too aloof. Mary Hegarty and Christine Rice(recently herself an outstanding Carmen) are excellent as Carmen's friends Frasquita and Mercedes.
Zuniga and Morales' performances are also right on the money. Which brings me to the two leads. Marcus Haddock mayn't have the most beautiful voice or be the most compelling of all Don Joses, but while his change from disinterested to love-struck to angry is introduced a little too quickly, he does do a good job at displaying his dark, angry side which we see frequently such as in the genuinely nail-biting fight between he and Zuniga, yet the exquisitely shaded Flower Song shows a sympathetic side. His voice while not beautiful perhaps is compensated by great diction and musicality.
Best of all is Anne Sophie Von Otter as Carmen. Hers may be different to other interpretations, I often see a dark-haired woman in the role and Von Otter I have often heard described as a "swedish ice queen". This didn't matter though because from her very first entrance she really makes the role her own. She is a stunning woman with a rich beautiful voice, very erotically charged and sizzles with sexuality(as we see with some groping of crotches for example). She is a very vivid actress too, not in a long time have I seen a Carmen so genuinely frightened as she at the end of act 3 and her death scene stayed with me long after.
In conclusion, a scintillating performance if not for everybody. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Although this was distracting, it wasn't enough to not make me think so highly of this Carmen. The costumes and sets are very good if sometimes cramped regarding the chorus and pretty authentic, the camera work is interesting and the picture quality is sharp and clear, adding to the effect of the performance. On the visual aspect I do understand why this 2002 Carmen mayn't appeal to all, it is dark on an emotional level and is quite crude and violent, but I personally didn't mind this.
Musically, this Carmen cannot be faulted. The orchestra play with great beauty of tone and plenty of Spanish flavour, the Overture and the Les Voici Chorus are especially exhilarating. Phillippe Jordan's conducting is equally impressive, his sense of tempo are acute throughout, he pays attention to dynamics and he with his open eyes, frowns and what not is very enigmatic to look at if understandably off-putting to the orchestra. The Chorus do have moments where their action is downstage and cramped but they sing with a great sound and at least react well to the action.
There were a lot of great decisions staging-wise. First and foremost, the dialogue. Here there is more dialogue than on various other productions and recordings I've heard and seen. This I loved, as there was not only an opera comique element as well as the inevitable tragic element, but we learn more about the characters and perhaps even are able to follow the story better. I loved Carmen's entrance, it is a very fiery and charismatic entrance.
Not only this, but the Don Jose and Escamillo duel in act 3 is expanded, so we see Don Jose lose and the toreador spares him but is later bested. The children's march song is more reminiscent of a taunt rather than an imitation, but actually this works. Also, the characters here do have distinctive personalities. The only exception is Micaela, who comes across as flat and matronly, but Frasquita and Mercedes are very different to each other, while McVicar's decision to have Morales as a man with an attitude rather than a friendly character is interesting.
The performances are excellent. The weak link for me is Lisa Milne, her singing is beautiful and her Je Dis Que Rien M'Envouvente is moving, but her stage presence comes across as rather meek, and it doesn't help that the character is so flat. I thought Laurent Naouri was fine as Escamillo, the voice has resonance and he is hearty and charismatic even if he is occasionally a tad too aloof. Mary Hegarty and Christine Rice(recently herself an outstanding Carmen) are excellent as Carmen's friends Frasquita and Mercedes.
Zuniga and Morales' performances are also right on the money. Which brings me to the two leads. Marcus Haddock mayn't have the most beautiful voice or be the most compelling of all Don Joses, but while his change from disinterested to love-struck to angry is introduced a little too quickly, he does do a good job at displaying his dark, angry side which we see frequently such as in the genuinely nail-biting fight between he and Zuniga, yet the exquisitely shaded Flower Song shows a sympathetic side. His voice while not beautiful perhaps is compensated by great diction and musicality.
Best of all is Anne Sophie Von Otter as Carmen. Hers may be different to other interpretations, I often see a dark-haired woman in the role and Von Otter I have often heard described as a "swedish ice queen". This didn't matter though because from her very first entrance she really makes the role her own. She is a stunning woman with a rich beautiful voice, very erotically charged and sizzles with sexuality(as we see with some groping of crotches for example). She is a very vivid actress too, not in a long time have I seen a Carmen so genuinely frightened as she at the end of act 3 and her death scene stayed with me long after.
In conclusion, a scintillating performance if not for everybody. 9/10 Bethany Cox