Carmen at the Royal Opera House - review
ONCE again the exuberant set pieces and magnificent performances of Francesca Zambello's vivid production continue to delight
More telephone ring tones come from Bizet's Carmen that any other opera. This is no coincidence: Carmen is simply packed with glorious well-known arias which turn it into an exuberant performance of the composer's greatest hits.
Unsurprisingly, though, it sounds much better on stage than coming from a mobile phone.
Francesca Zambello's production has been a mainstay of the Royal Opera programme since 2006 and still has a great deal going for it. The sets are deceptively simple, leaving attention concentrated on the singers, but when needed, the large chorus fill the stage, bringing added colour and activity that remove the need for extra scenery.
Above all, this production brings the authenticity and vigour that the opera deserves, and with the leading singers adding to the energy and glamour, and the conductor, Daniel Oren, driving the orchestra along at an exciting pace, it all added up to a great evening's exuberant entertainment.
At the opening night a week ago, the title role were taken by the Georgian mezzosoprano Anita Rachvelishvili. Carmen is a sultry gypsy temptress, and singers don't come more sultry, tempting or gypsy-liken than Rachvelishvili.
Her singing, dancing, and especially her tambourine skills fitted the role perfectly, especially when she was seducing or discarding Don Jose, sung by Roberto Alagna.
For many years, Alagna was renowned for his deliciously mellow tenor voice. In recent years, it seems to have become slightly harsher but after a slightly unconvincing start, he warmed to the performance and became a delight to watch and listen to.
His acting too seemed rather rigid at the beginning, but once he had fallen under the spell of Carmen's seductive twerking, he relaxed. In the final tragic scene, both he and Rachvelishvili were magnificent.
The plot, like that of most opera, is simple: Boy loves girl, girl tires of him and falls in love with someone else, boy kills girl, but dressed up with gypsy music and dance, great tunes and huge doses of melodrama, it makes for a great evening out.
Rachvelishvili and Alagna have now been replaced by Christine Rice and Younghon Lee, but the delights of Zambello's vivid production are sure to be just as impressive.
VERDICT: 4/5
Carmen runs at the Royal Opera House until January 9. For tickets visit roh.org.uk or call 020 7304 4000
