Oh Carmen, you're the ultimate bad girl!
The orchestra played the rousing overture, the famous Les Toreadors which we'll recognize as the breakneck soundtrack for the Bad News Bears. It was the most exciting few seconds of prelude to one of the best written and produced opera ever. It's full of the hit tunes we are familiar with like Habanera (sung here by Maria Callas) and the Toreador song.
The black stage curtain opened right at its bright red slit into an almost erotic pas de deux by a couple from American Ballet Theatre's best. What followed was a fiery performance by the stunning mezzo Elina Garanca as Carmen and tenor Roberto Alagna as Don Jose. The set reminded me of the Roman Coliseum. Crumbling at certain spots, it revolves at the turntable into different looks between Acts the most dramatic of which was the final scene inside the bullring.
The opera was sung in French but set in Seville with its exotic costumes of the period revealing the gypsies in their frocks as factory workers or in long skirts with beautiful shawl as dancers. The matadors paraded in their colorful costumes in the final act while the chorus worked hard at singing while pushing against the barricade of soldiers to get a glimpse of the toreadors.
I imagine it to be a most difficult part for Elina Garanca in Act IV as she sung while down on the floor and then got up with that heavy and long mantilla trailing several feet behind her. That showed her physical strength, all happening while being pushed and shoved by Don Jose.
Her voice was powerful. She was a flirt, whether she was seducing Don Jose with the dance of Seguidilla or suggestively squatting on the ground. Credits for an outstanding performance are due the fabulous soprano Barbara Frittoli as Micaela. Ditto for the tenor Teddy Tahu Rhodes replacing Mariusz Kwiecien today playing the role of Escamillo, the toreador.
The dancers from the American Ballet Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera's orchestra and the singers are a matched pair. With nearly four hours of sheer high note entertainment but only one intermission it was no surprise that I didn't hear any complaints at the restroom line.
Forget about that evening gown in your closet, jeans are acceptable attire. Carmen is for everyone and a perfect treat for the first time opera-goer.
Baddest girl Carmen won the hearts of many. Brava!
