Carmen review

Carmen received a very favorable review this past week in the Charlottesville Daily Progress. If you'd like to see a photo from the show and read the review, click on the link below.
The text of the article has also been pasted into this post.

Link to review


By Eleanor Tudor Daily Progress correspondent
Published: July 29, 2008

Searing and haunting, Ash Lawn’s “Carmen” will leave you breathless.

As the stage director David B. Lefkowich warns us, it is “an emotional journey” heightened to an almost painful pinnacle by Bizet’s “visceral, exciting, throbbing, passionate” music. The intimate nature of the Ash Lawn Opera venue makes it possible to look up close and personal at the raw “fury of love” in operatic form. As it plays itself out among the everyday people of Seville, it touches each of us at our own fiery core.

Melina Pineda is devastating and divine as Carmen, the temptress who drives men mad with desire. Her great sensual beauty is her power — and she knows it — and she isn’t afraid to use it to get what she wants. Moreover, Pineda’s rich mezzo-soprano voice is as bold and gorgeous as the character she creates.

Christian Reinert, as Don Jose, who is destined to play the role of one who attracts and then repels, cries out from his very soul for constancy from love that has devoured him, only to leave him bereft and loveless. His voice, lifted in ecstasy with Carmen’s at the height of their passion, and then in despair through all of their goodbyes, is heartrending. His full-bodied tenor is a perfect match for Carmen’s rich, powerful mezzo, and together they create the fire that we crave from these timeless lovers.

Rochelle Bard, as Micaela, whose constancy and faithfulness are continually upstaged by Carmen’s beauty and sensuality, has been given some almost excruciatingly beautiful arias, which she sings with depth and intensity.

The Toreador, as sung by Benjamin Werth, at once champion in the bull ring and catalyst for the inevitable tragedy, swaggers and boasts his way into Carmen’s heart. Yet, for all of that — and a beautiful baritone voice — he never captures our hearts. Despite our best intentions, we respond more strongly to Don Jose and Carmen, each of whom in his or her own way fatalistically passionate, though destined to be parted forever.

There are many fine performances from the supporting cast. The tavern scenes are robust fun and full of delightful characters. The smugglers, El Dancairo (played by Jason Kaminski) and El Remandado (played by William Bennett) try to convince the Gypsy women Carmen (played by Pineda), Frasquita (played by Megan Beltran) and Mercedez (played by Jami Tyzik) to join them as partners in crime — to be the distractions, which they say is something that women do best.

Among the lusty young men, always with an eye out for the ladies, are Corporal Morales (played by Andrew Bawden) and Lieutenant Zuniga (played by Thomas Forde), both of whom are memorable for their voices and their acting.

The power and richness of the vocal quality of the entire cast and chorus allows the orchestra to freely interpret and amplify Bizet’s challenging and difficult score. And the children’s chorus is truly the icing on the cake.

Bizet’s opera is based on Prosper Merimee’s novella “Carmen,” in which Merimee is concerned with trying to create a new kind of realism in works of art. In an effort to break down the barriers between life and art, attention is given to the real problems that people face.

In “Carmen,” the spotlight is turned on jealousy, which is exposed as a marauder and a trickster. It promises everything — and in the end gives nothing. In its most poisonous manifestation, it becomes the “deus ex machina” of the tragedy of the central characters, engulfing them and destroying their lives.

Don Jose’s last words, as he cradles Carmen’s lifeless body in his arms, say it all: “I have killed my own love. She is dead. Oh my Carmen, how I loved you.”

Audiences will want to allow themselves to be caught up in the power of this acclaimed master of sensuality — Bizet — and his beautiful “Carmen.”

Visit to C'ville

Although a week late in the post, I was able to visit Megan last week in Charlottesville. I had a fantastic time and it was a treat getting to see Megan's premiere as Frasquita! Megan's picture was featured in the Arts Section of the local paper as promotion for Carmen. Here are the images.





















In addition to multiple performances, we also had a chance to see Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, a place I have always wanted to visit. I am headed back in two weeks for the final weekend of her contract.

Checking in.

We're rehearsing at a private school which has also hosted a few other summer activities/organizations in addition to Ash Lawn Opera. One of the programs brought in a petting zoo for an afternoon.

Those of us who'd packed dinner decided to serenade the animals (okay, not really, but it made for some funny photos)...


I'm holding a Japanese Bantam hen. I was told that it's a rare breed known for its fluffy feathers. I was merely hoping that it didn't relieve itself on me.

And a photo from the first performance of the season, Broadway Bound. I sang excerpts from West Side Story and Oklahoma! A good time was had by all. Sitting to my right is the fabulous mezzo who will be singing the role of Carmen this summer and the other three are fellow apprentices this summer at ALO.

This week we're getting worked over by the Carmen artistic staff. We've staged the opera in four days and will have a day off tomorrow to digest the whole thing. Saturday and Sunday are performances of My Fair Lady and then next week we have a tech rehearsal, a Sitzprobe and a dress rehearsal for Carmen. Friday night is Mozart & More (opera scenes) and Saturday night Carmen opens!

Hang on...

Traveling without a passport...

I traveled to Northwestern this week in order to call dibs on some equipment that was being left behind by a previous professor. As I got to the airport, I could not help but feel a little strange to not have my passport. After our time in Europe, it just feels weird to only have to travel with your driver’s license.

The whirlwind two day trip was a HUGE success. I was able to get the equipment that I wanted, and finally got to see Evanston (the suburb just north of Chicago where Northwestern is located) in a time other than winter. Previously, I have only been there in January, February, and the very end of March, Everything was amazingly green. We were told that the city was very proud of its trees (kind of like Pleasantville, aka Burlingame) and I was definitely not disappointed.

I also got the chance to go sailing. The Department chair (who is an avid sailor), took another new faculty member (Josh) and I out sailing for two hours on Lake Michigan. The conditions were perfect. Looking back at the Bahai temple, Northwestern, and downtown Chicago was a treat. We enjoyed a gorgeous sunset and calm waters. I even got to take the helm of the “Flying Scot” for about 30 minutes.

I am looking forward to visiting with Megan this fall.