Bizet: Carmen
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Movie Reviews of Bizet: Carmen
Movie Review: As good as it gets (nearly....) but there are cuts?
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved every bit of this production (nearly, that is). It is of the highest standard in terms of singing, acting, costumes, staging etc... I have not found any other commercial DVD which is comparable. Antonacci is a very good Carmen, though not outstandingly so. Amongst the other notable DVDs, Ewing's, despite her consummate acting, is marred by somewhat ill-disciplined singing, Migenes and Bumbry had to lip-synch for their respective (otherwise fantastic) versions, while Baltsa and Berganza have rather unsuitable temperaments for Carmen, and Amparan sang in Italian. And Kaufman is probably the best Jose, amidst keen competition (including Corelli, Vickers, Domingo, Carreras, Luis Lima). D'Arcangelo is better than most Escamillos, though he must yield to Samuel Ramey. Ansellem is a typical, not very exciting, Micaela.
But was the dialogue between Zuniga and Carmen missing in the beginning of Act 2? He was supposed to invite her out, right? Also, the festive opening number in Act 4 was also missing. I certainly did not like the cuts. Four and a half stars perhaps.
Movie Review: My Favorite CARMEN!
Summary: 5 Stars
Anna Caterina Antonacci is my favorite "Carmen" yet! She is a fabulous
singer and a an excellent actress as well. She also has the looks for
a truly believable Carmen. Jonas Kaufman, as Don Jose, is excellent.
This is my first introduction to his work, and he has a wonderful rich
voice. I never thought anyone could equal Samuel Ramey as the matador
Escamillo, but Ildebrando D'Arcangelo does! He plays the part with relish,
and I love his strong beautiful voice. I like the matador moves he displays in the choreography for his introductory "Toreador" song. This
opera is great fun. I own two other very good "Carmen" dvd's. One is the
Agnes Baltsa, Carreras and Ramey version and the other is the relatively
recent Carmen that was filmed in Verona with Marina Domashenko and Marco
Berti. This new one, starring Antonacci and Kaufman, is my favorite of the
three. Everything is perfect! It is so much fun to watch and listen to!
Highly recommended!
Movie Review: HOTTER THAN SUMMER IN SEVILLE
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a thrilling and sultry performance of one of the most popular operas in the repertoire. Antonacci looks sexy, as the gypsy should, and sings very well, with just the right amount of smoky darkness in her voice. Amsellen has a very nice lyric soprano and portrays a determined Micaëla. D'Arcangelo may not be singing many Escamillos -he doesn't seem to be comfortable in the role-, but sounds good and has a very handsome presence. But the real star of the evening is Jonas Kauffman, in a spellbinding performance of Don Jose, beautifully sung, combining sweet and desperate tones, dramatically involved and fullfilling all the demands of the role as no other tenor in living memory. This is a tenor to watch. A true artist. The production looks messy at times but is not bad. The orchestra plays beautifully. The HD picture and the sound are both excellent. A Carmen to treasure.Movie Review: Shattering performances
Summary: 5 Stars
Astonishing performances from the two central leads makes this the most dramatically impressive performance on DVD, in my opinion. If you are looking for musicality and dramatic intensity of the highest order - which lifts this old warhorse out of the realm of sentimental cliche into a sphere akin to tragedy - then this is the one. The set is a very striking burnished orange and gold, the costumes have an authentic period look stripped of any glitzy romanticism. This may not be to everyone's taste but I found the overall effect to be very satisfying dramatically. Every now and then a production comes along that enables you to experience a classic piece as if for the first time. This is what Kaufman (the finest Don Jose on stage today) and Antonacci have done for me with this Carmen, to the point where I barely noticed any limitations of the production.
Movie Review: Best Carmen I've Ever Heard
Summary: 5 Stars
What a smash hit this DVD is although my expectations were high, I never thought it would be this good. The direction is natural and Antonacci's interpretation is the darkest and most fatalistic portrayal I've ever seen. Forget about all the cliches like the hands on the swinging hips and other boring devices used over and over again.
Jonas Kaufmann, who is coming into his own as a major star, does not disappoint. His passagio from the lower voice to ringing top is something I have not heard in a tenor for a long, long time.
I have to admit Pappano is my favorite conductor among the younger generation of conductors. He truly conducts for the singers and his orchestras always simply sing the music.