(2009/2010 Metropolitan Opera; Richard Eyre staging)

I was introduced to Carmen at a young age, and immediately fell in love with the bombastic score. All the sex and seduction stuff, however, went completely over my head. I understood what was happening, but I had no context for the motivations of the characters. I didn’t get what would drive Carmen to be a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of person. I didn’t understand the dark complications that would drive José to kill the woman he loves in order to keep her. Now that I’m adult, I get that Carmen isn’t really about love at all. It’s about manipulation and obsession.

Not that that’s a bad thing. I watched this staging of Carmen the way I usually do, on PBS’s airing of the New York Met’s productions. Recently was their Carmen, and this is the first time since I was young that I’ve watched the opera in its entirety. I’ve listened to the music often. I took a singing class and learned ‘the Habanera.’ (It’s really hard, and doesn’t let you breathe.) Anyway, watching Carmen with a little more worldly understanding, really highlighted for me just how much I didn’t get when I was a kid. It was also more fun, because I can relate a little more. I’ve met people who do really intense relationships for two months, then move on. I relate to the gypsies’ desire for absolute freedom. Plus, I now I have the patience to really appreciate the slower songs, like Micaela’s contemplative aria in the second act. I couldn’t when I was younger.

This production isn’t definitive in any way, but it gets a lot of things right. You kind of know what you’re getting into when you decide to watch Carmen, and I think this production had the perfect energy.

(2011 Metropolitan Opera staging)

An opera about opera. The central questions is “What matters more? Music or poetry?” Capriccio implies, and I agree, that in opera you cannot have one without the other. You need poetry to express an idea, and you need the music to feel the idea. The former inspires the latter, and latter is given depth with the former. (Does the structure of that sentence work?)

This staging is set in the early 20th century, and as usual the costumes are absolutely sublime. Renee Fleming has this one purple dress that I totally want.

Art about art that celebrates art. This opera was fun, and I’d watch it again. I’m surprised I haven’t come across it more. Theatre-people love to talk about theatre, and this is the perfect opera for everyone involved in the show to just revel in their love of theatre.

(2011 Metropolitan Opera based on English National Opera’s 2000 staging)

Act I is a fairly literal interpretation of Nixon’s visit, but by Act III the action and music have become much more abstract. I feel like the symbolism would have been a lot more effective if I was extremely well versed in the all of the history surround the event. Even so, I liked it a lot.