Carmencita!

Well the opera pimp got her wish and we had a large crowd of people decided they wanted subscriptions this year. The first performance of the year was last night - opening night of Carmen in Melb.

Ah Carmen...it's got great songs but sometimes the characters just annoy me. At intermission I walked out growling about chicks who use their sex-appeal to get what they want and the weak-willed sucker guys who fall for it. Grrrrrr!!!!!! I suppose this is a good thing because it means I really got sucked into the whole deal. But then it has been pointed out to me that while Carmen flirts, its the guys who chase her - interesting. And it has been argued that there are indications that Don Jose is not the squeakiest clean of guys. No matter, an enjoyable night was had by all.


Highlights! Rosario La Spina may be a slightly portly Don Jose, but goddamn he has a beautiful voice! Especially his La fleur que tu m'avais jetee, it was just lovely. All the livestock on stage! There was a donkey, a chicken and a horse! When Escamillo rode out singing Votre toast! while seated on the back of that horse...I was just waiting for it to crack it during one of the rousing moments. Everytime it pawed the ground....and then to finish it off, the horse was brought out and did a curtsey at the curtain call!

Lowlights....hmmm, maybe this is being picky but some of the artists' pronunciation in the spoken bits need a bit of work. And some people complained that the ending was given away in the program notes. What do you expect from opera, a happy ending?!
(Picture source)