A NEW CARMEN FOR THE AGES

 Micaela Aldridge with cast of Carmen

(Photo by Joan Greenberg)

Opera Theater Rutgers: Carmen

A New Carmen for the ages…

(Guest Review byJoan Greenberg)

The  promo reads…….:

“Carmen by Georges Bizet, scandalized audiences when it premiered in 1875 at Paris’ Opera Comique. Critics and opera-goers alike were taken aback by the opera’s unconventional heroine, who defied societal norms, with her independence, sensuality, and disregard for authority.

Presented by Rutgers Opera and performed by the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra, this new production, conducted by Kynan Johns and directed by Colm Summers, “aims to find fresh relevance in Bizet’s critique of patriarchy.”

 

Dear Reader, having attended last evening’s performance, this writer is here to say, they succeeded….

 

Full disclosure:

1-   We  have been a longtime fan of the female lead, so there was a concern that we could not be objective. Last evening’s audience put that concern to rest with their resounding applause…. and

 

2-   We are not a fan of the recent “new reimagined” updated and uprooted versions of Carmen such as the one recently performed at the Met.

 

However, while suspension of disbelief may be required …..  (with one exception*) we were not bothered with Rutgers taking Carmen through a Time Machine and changing Bizet’s bullfighter’s vocation from matador to rodeo competitor.

*[the exception being electronic distractions from a television and several overhead projections]

 

Our compliments to the very able (i)  orchestra conducted by Maestro Johns for not (with little exception) drowning out the arias; (ii) the wardrobe designer for creating provocative dress for Carmen, even as a  factory worker and cowgirl; and (iii) the performer and stage directors.

 

Now for the main course…..

One could not take their eyes or ears off the stunning (vocally and visually) Mezzo Micaela Aldridge when she was on stage. While her amazing voice was no surprise to this writer, her acting chops blew us away….. there was not an emotion that was not strikingly conveyed to the audience with her eyes, facial expressions, and body movements. No wonder Don Jose (the accomplished Lyric tenor Jeremy Blossey)  and the other characters (male and female) were captivated by her.

 

We will leave to another time our views about how, ( despite first impressions) Don Jose was no victim of a vixen. His cruelty and lack of morality to the blameless Micaela (beautifully performed by soprano Lu Huang) as well as his lack of concern for his mother or military duties, cannot be lain at the feet of Carmen…

 

There are two sets of leads, who split the four scheduled performances…….and if we could we would see their performances as well.   Hopefully, Rutgers will offer  another opportunity to enjoy them.

© meche kroop