Bizet - Carmen / Levine, Baltsa, Carreras, Metropolitan Opera
by Brian Large
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Agnes Baltsa, Jose Carreras, Leona Mitchell, Myra Merritt, Samuel RameyDirector: Brian Large
Brand: BALTSA/CARRERAS/MET
DVD: 2 Layers, Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language), PCM Stereo; English (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 172 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-12-12
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
Movie Reviews of Bizet - Carmen / Levine, Baltsa, Carreras, Metropolitan Opera
Movie Review: "Love so right, can turn out to be so wrong" or "Games people play"!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fine MET production from 1988 (omg, I remember the first time I watched it on TV... now I feel old!)
Many people know the story of Carmen- it has be imitated, duplicated, made into movies, operas, musicals, etc. As I watched it recently, there's this moment in the first act where you have that "love so right can turn out to be so wrong" premonition. You know that even though she is enticing (and loose) and he is handsome (and dumb) this is going to turn out VERY badly. As I watched the 2nd act, I thought of the "games people play" where she basically says in both Acts I & II that "if you loved me, you'd do this." Guys AND Gals... don't ever fall for that line! That's your red flag, get outta that relationship! Well, Don Jos? isn't that alert, because he's been intoxicated by what apparently was the "Legends of the Fall" syndrome. So many women and just one is being constantly fought over!?! OK. In Act IV when she says she loves Escamillo, I'm thinking "and if they told you wolverines make good house pets?" (like who'd believe this chick? she changes lovers like some people change their oil, every 6 months!) And in the end, you just feel sorry for them both- him the desperate, pathetic stalker; her the ill-fated, resolute and honest slut. jk ;)
On to this DVD. It's conducted by Jimmy Levine & he does his usual wonderful job of conducting the MET Orchestra. They do nicely too, nice dynamics and overall excellent pacing.
Our Carmen is Agnes Baltsa (a Nia Vardalos look alike- one could wish for a more attractive Carmen, but like Bette Davis, she makes you believe she is the most desired woman on the block) and she sings with passion and power. She has a *very* solid lower register and aside from a few uncomfortable moments at the beginning of Act II, for the most part she sounds completely secure in this role. She also has ringing high notes that are just out of the ballpark. I would wish for some more dynamics and shading. In the Act III scene where she sings her aria, "En vain pour ?viter les r?ponses am?res" she is all loud. I don't mind the comatose facial expression because it suits the resignation of the song- but all loud is just brutal- which most of the time in this role, is what Carmen is.
Our Don Jos? is Jos? Carreras in his prime before he became ill. His singing is mellifluous and powerful. He also shades and uses his dynamics to great effect. He is also quite a handsome and dashing figure and can act. Pretty much the ideal Don Jos?! His aria, "La fleur que tu m'avais jet?e" is so fabulous- his is my favorite of all tenors in this aria. And his act IV performance will completely rivet you in your seat. The 2 leads actually look a bit in the throes still of the performance at curtain call. That's a pretty tough Act IV to do- vicious and brutal (kinda like taking a curtain call after playing Martha & George in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?")
Our Escamillo is Samuel Ramey who became quite famous in this role- and with good reason. It is well suited to his voice and he also cuts a dashing figure on stage. But let's face it, dramatically, the part is just a subplot. The Micha?la is sung by Leona Mitchell and she does quite nicely. Her best part is in the duet with Don Jos? in Act I where she is all sweetness and looks the part too. She is so lovely on stage; it is easy at times to overlook some flaws. Her aria is a little less convincing. Her diction is terrible and it's when she sings it goes out the window- her spoken lines are much easier to understand. She also gets a bit hooty at times.
All the other roles, Frasquita, Merc?d?s and Moral?s, etc. are nicely done by all. The staging is great, lighting good, the costumes beautiful and it's a dream chorus.
This is a very good Carmen- it's won't be everyone's because Baltsa's Carmen is a bit on the harsh side, sexy but more dangerous than sexy- and the same can be said for her singing. But I would think few would find a better Don Jos? than Carreras. Recommended :)
Summary of Bizet - Carmen / Levine, Baltsa, Carreras, Metropolitan Opera
The tragic tale of a Spanish officer who throws his life away for the love of a gypsy temptress.Genre: Performing Arts - Opera
Rating: NR
Release Date: 12-DEC-2000
Media Type: DVD
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