tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9458752.post6458206528672668314..comments2023-10-26T08:19:23.900-04:00Comments on an unamplified voice: The song of CarmenJSUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02477558636942883735noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9458752.post-16856195318461128502010-03-07T14:13:49.943-05:002010-03-07T14:13:49.943-05:00I was at the (January 21) show and agree with your...I was at the (January 21) show and agree with your observations. I've generally been something of a heretic on Carmen, appreciating the music, understanding the appeal but, frankly, never coming close to being captivated or even consistently entertained over the course of the entire opera. One often ends up going but I wouldn't say I've been "waiting for a Carmen". This performance was thrilling from first note to last. The only weakness was Kwizcen's Escamillio, for the reasons yo suggest. I'm huge Frittoli fan and on this night she was more than fully satisfying even is she did not have every last note.<br /><br />I will readily admit Alagna's variability but on this night he sang the best Don Jose I've heard from him, (quite impressively so as the first one saw him in a much younger incarnation in the fall of 2000 - the 2000-2001 was imho one of the best if not the best Met season of the last 15 I've been going, but that's a separate matter). The production was very very effective. Usually at a Carmen my mind wanders and one of the things it often wanders to is the lack of appeal of the story. Objectively the story still lack appeal for me but in this incarnation, during the performance it was never less than completely involving. Obviously Nezet-Seguin deserves enormous credit for this for as well. I absolutely agree that his work, even in light of all the accolades was quite seriously underrated. His Don Carlos next year promises to be one the highlights of the season <br /><br />Last, but certainly not least, we get to Garanca, and hear I have a slight disagreement. Since running into her Cherubino in Vienna a few years ago (I should have been but was completely unaware of her existence, much less rising stature at the time) I have been a huge fan and under no circumstances would contemplate missing anything she does. I was certainly planning to go to the new production but her presence (even though she's back next season) made it something of an unconditional imperative. I, like many, was skeptical about her as Carmen but being more of a Garanca then Carmen fan was not I was hardly deterred. In the event she easily exceed all expectations and you provide a quite exceptional description of her work here. The disagreement I refer to above, however, relates to the quality of her voice in and of itself and vis-a-vis Borodina's. Obviously there is a great deal of subjectivity here.I don't disagree with you about the opulence and a could be pressed to give Borodina an A+. In doing so, however, I would have to give Garanca and A++, for there is plenty of opulence there too (and the quantity of such can certainly increase - the first time I heard Borodina - the very unexciting Carmen of the 2000 performance mentioned above she was already older then Garanca) but the very distinctive character, specific color and flexibility of the voice make it, imo, the most stunning instrument on stage today. I really like her personality as well and though this will not necessarily translate into effective portrayals of specific characters, it most certainly did in this case. <br /><br />Borodina by contrast, though she certainly can (and usually does) do "oppulent" and she <i>can</i> do "commanding" , tends to disappoint far too often. Specifically as Carmen and to a lesser extent as Eboli (though it would be great if we could switch her into next season's DC, where the female casting bids to bring down what should otherwise be a great show). Naturally, Garanca's Eboli should be something to look forward to, though one hopes she takes her time getting there.marcillachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10890948953007381186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9458752.post-37902133363599450042010-02-24T06:11:50.359-05:002010-02-24T06:11:50.359-05:00I saw Garanca and Alagna in the Carmen at Covent G...I saw Garanca and Alagna in the Carmen at Covent Garden last year and, although normally I'm not a fan of Carmen, I found they made this opera exciting for me. I agree in the main with your review (excepting the parts about the production, on which I can't comment because I haven't seen the one at the Met).<br /><br />Garanca was the Carmen I have been waiting for as I have found every other mezzo I have seen in the role hasn't convinced me at all. Technically Alagna pushes and tends to sing through his nose, however, in London he sang with a lot of conviction and passionate fire, I was bowled over. I will definitely be buying their DVD when it comes out later this year.<br /><br />N.NHBhttp://nhbartlett.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com