Perfection. Amazing how she can play the fear so well, and yet still be able to sing so perfectly, and how he seems so desperate, so angry, so threatening. Amazing duo.
Nope. Sorry. For me, this is the kind of production that says right away the director doesn't trust the power of Bizet's score, is hungry to "make a 21st century statement," and feels the need to indicate and predict coming events on behalf of the audience. Instead of allowing great singing actors to live it out moment by moment, letting the finale build to its final jarring conclusion, invasive concepts, and a lot of unnecessary symbolism, were forced upon it. There's so much dramatic intensity in moments of distance and restraint - and the music! My word! It gives us everything. Don José shouldn't put his hands on Carmen until well into this duet (at least wait until, "Laisse-moi! Laisse-moi!"). He believes he's still motivated by love, until she finally says "No. I don't love you anymore," at which point we really get to see he's a desperate, unstable man. Carmen is independent and assertive, but she's not some whore fighting off her pimp. She's trying to establish autonomy by maintaining physical distance from him. Why was there a need to have Don José strip off Carmen's garment? We already know she's trapped and vulnerable. It's not Luke raping Laura. It's not Ike and Tina. C'mon. This should not come off like some overworked primetime drama. Their final confrontation should metaphorically mirror the bullfight that's happening in the stadium right behind them. I don't know. For me, the music is GLORIOUS, the story is solidly enveloped in the composition. In this case, the dramatic personnel is exceptional. Sometimes, directors need to back off, and let the story do its job.
Look at the power in the restraint and distance between Baltsa and Carreras - until he finally snaps. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZJtyVUAP3ak.html
Opera always adapts with time. If not, it would be already extinguished. Check versions of 100 years ago, there is a huge difference because we expect life in another way they did before. It would be deadly boring.
Sorry to say but this is utter rubbish. I like both singers, but neither one is good enough in this performance. And the setting is dreadful. Bizet deserves more respect. This is not Carmen. Modernity is killing opera.
Che voce cupa caro Kaufmann ,sembra avesse una noce in bocca...lasciamo perdere tutto il resto del brano ma un "Venere splende" così brutto non lo avevo ancora ascoltato.
