Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Carmen
Carmen Utah Opera Capitol Theatre Salt Lake City, Utah January 16, 2010 Ari Pelto, Conductor Garnett Bruce, Director Leann Sandel-Pantaleo, Carmen Chad Shelton, Don Jose Christopher Feigum, Escamillo Seriously; now I know why I don't usually sit in the first couple of rows when I go to the opera. The orchestra was echoing off the box seats just above me. I couldn't see about 1/3 of the blocking...But can I just say how much I love Bizet's Carmen? Of course, I love any opera where the tenor doesn't die at the end. Especially if said tenor gets to stab someone. Even more so if that someone is a soprano. (Well in this case, it was a mezzo-soprano, but still...) This is my second time THIS season to see this opera. The first was in Logan with the Utah Festival Opera. (I also saw Carmen for the first time several years ago...in Logan.) It gets better every time I see it. Thankfully, it's a popular opera so opera companies do it farily regularly. Which is nice. Because I love to watch the tenor kill a soprano (or mezzo-soprano). I know, I know, I'm sadistic. UFO also did I pagliacci this last season. I had an enjoyable couple days up there. Lots of murdering of sopranos. (Insert evil laugh here.) Overall the production (Utah Opera's) was great. Like I mention earlier I couldn't see about a 1/3 of the blocking. My fault really, I chose that seat! It was only bad in Act One when you have literally everyone on stage. Carmen's entrance was a little blocked from my view. The character of Carmen, to me, is a suducer. Ms. Sandel-Pantaleo pulled that off well. Mr. Shelton was amazing as Don Jose, the hopeless romantic with fits of jealousy and rage. Mr. Feigum was...okay. I personally didn't care for him. He seemed kinda stiff. I don't mean the character. Escamillo is arrogant, self-absorbed...I've never known a baritone who wasn't. (A note to all my baritone friends; "Just kidding."). I think I remember hearing that this is his first time in the role, so perhaps he's just not sure of himself yet. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Feigum does have a beautiful voice. (I'd never sing the role. I'm a tenor and even though it's most likely in my comfortable singing range, tessitura aside, I'm the only person for whom I'll degrade myself my singing baritone. Which I have done. Once. In Utah/Idaho Performing Arts Company's production of The Other Wise Man by M. Ryan Taylor. Directed by your's truly...Singing baritone is beneath me.) Personally, I would love to see this production again. The set was different then what I've seen before. Which is nice. I like to see things different then what other people do. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend again. My paycheck only goes so far and I have my own company to support. Visit UNIPAC's blog for more information about our upcoming concert on February 6th. An evening of opera arias, art song, lied, and broadway ballads. Single tickets are $8.00 and $14.00 for couples. God Bless, Joey
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2 comments:
You better leave off on the baritone jokes or I'll make a eunuch of you! LOL.
Seriously, I like parts of Carmen, but its on the long side for my taste. I remember seeing it at BYU and they're outside the bull-fight at the very end and Carmen is telling the tenor off about how disgusting he is for like ten minutes. Then he says, "You mean you don't like me" - the entire audience erupted in laughter. It was one of the great moments of my opera attending career.
@ Ryan - LOL. Well, all my baritone jokes are said with love. So that makes it okay. (Of course Don Jose killed Carmen because he loved her. So I guess that makes that okay too. :) )
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