English Touring Opera at the Hackney Empire

9th October 2008

Why, why, why, would English Touring Opera do, such a terrible thing? I believe, ETO can only perform operas, of a certain length, of under three hours, and it is likely, Bizet’s original, would exceed this time limit. Bizet, himself, produced this abridgement, and there was, probably, a very good reason, for which he decided, to do so, but ETO’s reasoning, I do not understand. The complete opera, is only, two hours, and forty-five minutes, so, with just a fifteen minute interval, the opera could have been performed, in it’s entirity. Or perhaps, if this did prove, too long, they could perhaps, instead, have cut just five or ten minutes, from the opera, and so conceded, to the restriction. I am sure, the result, would have been better, than this monstrosity.

Carmen, has some terrible subject matters, but it has also, a great deal, of laughter, and life. Carmen, when not manipulating everyone, is a lot of fun. The Card scene, although tragic in it’s conclusion, is, at first, amusing. Even Don Jose is not, always, without charm. Escamillo, with his bull fights, should be dreamy. But, in this short version, La tragedie de Carmen, all this is lost, and the result, is flat. It is true, the title, depicts it, as a tragedy, but it is, nevertheless, a disapointment, to one, who knows the original. La tragedie de Carmen, has only violence. Don Jose, attacks people, intermitantly, and Carmen, removes her clothes, intermitantly, and, very soon, the novelty was worn off. Escamillo, fights no bulls, instead, he listens, on his record player, (so out of date!), to Bizet’s, March of the Toreador. It is, truly, not the same.

The singing, was variable. Leah-Marian Jones, as Carmen, sang, spectaculatly, but her character, was too old, to be, truly attractive. She was not, by any means, a sexy, young, gypsy. Leah-Marian has, doubtless, legs, of considerable attractions, if you happen, to be male, and she can, most effectively, play a younger woman, onstage, but the image, of Carmen, as the rather, past-it, former beauty, was ineffectual.

Don Jose, was sung by David Curry, who is, a young singer, of incredible talent. But, his gorgeous, light tenor, is not suited, to so heavy a role, as Don Jose. Also, with little to do, other than commit violence, on the other characters, there was little, or no, opportunity, for him to develop, a character. His rival in love, Escamillo, was sung, by Nicholas Garrett, who sang, that challenging aria, with significant, dexterity. His role, however, seemed to lack, in importance.

Even, in the complete opera, Micaela, hardly features, as she speaks only, to the other characters, at the beginning, of the first act. In La tragedie de Carmen, she presented, the one, moment of humour, when she, capably, stood up, to Zuniga. It seemed like, a scene, from another opera, almost as though, she did not belong, in such a dark, and horrific work, at all. However, Sinead Campbell-Wallace, who sang the role, gave, consequently, the most enjoyable performance, in the opera.

Maciek O’Shea offered, also, promise, in the role of Zuniga, but, I did not, I confess, notice him as Garcia, Carmen’s husband. I did not realise, truly, that Carmen, had a husband. I would not thought, she had the energy. Carmen is, truly, a rather, disgusting, character. Keel Watson, was Lilias Pasta, I do remember him, so he must have had, a great stage presence, as his role was small.

Gareth Hancock, conducted, the ETO Orchestra, and, I do not think, he made the performance any worse. The only disapointing parts, of the music, were the bits that weren’t there, and the bit, on the record player, which sounded, horribly, tinny, but, I believe, even if the ETO orchestra, did record it, the inferior quality, is the fault, of the record player. I would have preferred it, greatly, if Gareth had conducted, the whole opera, but, if the director, Andrew Steggall’s, vision of the story, had been more enjoyable, the abridgement, might have been more bearable.

Carmen, wore many costumes, designed, by Sarah Bacon, but mostly, looked dreadful, and her clothes, did not suit, the character at all. Sarah’s sets, were more successful, as they were quite interesting, but the scene changes, took a bit long. But why, it was necessary, to view the shadows, of Carmen and one of her men, I forget who, I was too busy, averting my eyes, as they displayed, their intimate relationship, for all to see? This might, even, have been worse, than all the murders, that appeared, to be enacted.

Violetta

primi-divi at hotmail.co.uk