Bizet: Carmen

Elina Garanča (Carmen), Roberto Alagna (Don José), Teddy Tahu Rhodes (Escamillo), Barbara Frittoli (Micaela), Keith Miller (Zuniga), Elizabeth Caballero (Frasquita), Sandra Piques Eddy (Mercedes), Earle Patriarco (Dancaire), Keith Jameson (Remandado), Trevor Scheunemann (Morales)

Metropolitan...

...everyone on stage, from stars to comprimarios and children (authentically underfoot), crackles with individual life, ideal on video... Garanča's clean-cut Baltic mezzo and fresh good looks... — BBC Music Magazine, December 2010, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 30th Aug 2010
Catalogue No: 0734581
Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Presto Recording of the Week

23rd August 2010
Gramophone Magazine

November 2010

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Bizet: Carmen

Elina Garanča (Carmen), Roberto Alagna (Don José), Teddy Tahu Rhodes (Escamillo), Barbara Frittoli (Micaela), Keith Miller (Zuniga), Elizabeth Caballero (Frasquita), Sandra Piques Eddy (Mercedes), Earle Patriarco (Dancaire), Keith Jameson (Remandado), Trevor Scheunemann (Morales)
Metropolitan Opera
Yannick Nézet-Séguin

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Recording of the Week, Elīna Garanča goes Spanish

23rd August 2010

The Latvian mezzo sings the title-role in Bizet’s Carmen from the Metropolitan Opera on DVD, and explores gypsy music still further on her new recital Habanera, which includes music from zarzuela, operetta and musical theatre.

Solo Dancers: Maria Kowroski & Martin Harvey

Production: Richard Eyre

Set & Costume Designer: Rob Howell

Lighting Designer: Peter Mumford

Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon

After her triumphant success as Carmen in Riga, London, and Munich, Elîna Garanča, “the Carmen of our day” (News, Austria), took the Met by storm when filmed live in January 2010.

Every generation has its “go to” Carmen. In 2010, the list of definitive gypsy seductresses – glittering with names like Baltsa, Bumbry, Calvé, Farrar, and Stevens – is enriched by the addition of Elîna Garanča.

The Wiener Zeitung said it all when it observed of Garanča’s Carmen that “the role and the singer are perfectly matched”.

This production was also seen at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2009 with Garanča and Alagna in the lead roles.

2 DVD Set in 5.1 DTS surround sound.

Subtitles: French (orig. lang.), German, English, Spanish, Chinese

Artists

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Reviews

December 2010

...everyone on stage, from stars to comprimarios and children (authentically underfoot), crackles with individual life, ideal on video... Garanča's clean-cut Baltic mezzo and fresh good looks suggest not the stereotypical gypsy wench, but a free spirit, intelligent and wilful

November 2010

Here is an opera DVD where, rare in my experience, each individual element matches the excellence of the others: production, cast, performance, film direction and use of the medium....Garanča has a fine sparring partner in Alagna - both roles are as well acted as they are sung...Halvorson's fluent direction conveys a real sense of occasion to the whole evening.

August 2010

Not only does Ms Garanča sing with wonderful enunciation, but also with meaning and a wide variety of tonal colour. In her singing and acting she exudes Carmen’s sexuality whilst not over-egging it with hip swinging and flaunting...Along with Elina Garanča, the big plus of the performance is found in Yannick Nézet-Séguin. His idiomatic conducting has verve, vitality and sensitivity.

23rd August 2010

Garanča is right up there with the best. She sings with a seductive and alluring tone, and her technique is superb. The combination of her film star looks and her natural acting draw you into her character completely...Alagna also makes an excellent Don José. I think this is one of his strongest roles and he sings with both real power and refinement.

19th December 2010

Elina Garanca's striking Carmen and Barbara Frittoli's Micaela stand out, with Alagna unexpectedly affecting as Don Jose.

28th August 2010

This is a calculating Carmen, who knows the worth of her assets. Some of her wily intelligence is reflected in the voice — strong in all reaches, flaming at the top...[Tahu Rhodes] prov[es] himself to be an ideal toreador, virile of voice, and very tall. All in all, a Carmen well worth seeing and hearing.

Bizet: Carmen

2 DVD Videos

Contents

Recording of the Week, Elīna Garanča goes Spanish

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