I went to see the live performance of Carmen at The Royal Opera House last night. I went with my sisters who both thought they were going to see a ballet, so there was much muted laughter as we took our seats.
We were all disappointed, me for the fact the staging was in a moody, shadowy 1970s Spain and not all frocks, sweaty factory workers and matador buttocks and for them that there was no ballet dancing.
The music, led by sexy as fuck conductor Antoello Manacorda is adorable as always and in the lead the 27 year old Russian Aigul Akhmetshina really shines in a performance of power and confidence and charm.
By the time I got home and relaxed it was nearly eleven, and it amused me, as I sat and wrote this with a drink, that Roger had positioned himself next to the front door fire vent with his nose resting against the slats .
He was listening to see if he could hear the Blackbird moving in her nest as she had been doing all day .
He does amuse me
The following video has Aigul performing Carmen when only 22 years old
Amazing
She is good.
ReplyDeleteLee here..I agree, given her age she has a maturity of some note.
DeleteI love that you and your sisters socialise regularly
I think it underlines your natural ability to love and be loved.
I envy that being an only child
Lee
I’ve always been lucky we enjoy each other’s company x
DeleteWhat a voice! Thanks for introducing me to Aigul Akhmetshina -- I hadn't heard of her before. Sure to be The Next Big Opera Star!
ReplyDeleteA cracker
DeleteRoger is adorable.
ReplyDeleteI’ve deleted the flis arguments
DeleteSpectacular opera. AA really hits those notes unlike anyone else. Her talent is amazing. The Blackbird has sweet Roger's full attention.
ReplyDeleteIt was a night worth “meeting” her
DeleteLove, love this rendition of Habenera. I always enjoyed singing this in my youth.
ReplyDeleteNow that’s a skill I’d love to hear
DeleteLovely! My last Carmen was 'live from the Met" set in Texas.
ReplyDeleteDid the tex thing work ?
DeleteA great evening. She has a wonderful voice.
ReplyDeleteSo easy to love Roger! He seems to have such a sweetness about him.
Male Welsh terriers are deightful
DeleteI’ve had three
Finlay, William and Roger
Fin was the most clingy , William the gentlest and Roger the sweetest dimbo
What a voice! Darling Roger, he's such a sweetie. Does he try to catch the birds, or is he just an inquisitive, little ornithologist? xx
ReplyDeleteJust fascinated with their movement
DeleteSince being teenage, 'Carmen' has been one of my very favourite of all operas, despite containing two of my bete-noires, smoking and bull-fighting - the second, of course, only by implication, but the first almost always in actuality. The best I ever saw was at the Edinburgh Festival in 1977 with star-studded cast - Teresa Berganza, Jose Carreras and Mirella Freni (I think conductor was Abbado) - performed entirely BEHIND a gauze curtain covering the whole front of stage, giving it all a sand-coloured look. Could have been visually disastrous but it wasn't. Hypnotic, both to watch as well as being glorious to listen to. Incredible tune after tune after tune - magical! Haw sad it remains that it wasn't appreciated at its disastrous premiere, almost certainly contributing to Bizet's tragically early passing.
ReplyDeleteRaymondo , thank you for that, you are certainly one well experience guy when it comes to theatre.
DeleteI found this version too gritty
I've no doubt that you, JayGee, at your comparatively ''youthful' age, have already had far more notable experiences - theatrical and more - than I have, now in my relative senility. ;-)
DeleteWe each have our own likes x
DeleteI really loathe these twisted versions of classics. We saw Carmen in Seville. It started in the correct time period and it moved forward in time through every scene, until the end when there was a guy in a trench coat using a cell phone. I wanted to scream.
ReplyDeleteYes. I also once saw a version with multiple incongruities, including a BLIND Micaela! As though the original story needs outrageous and absurd changes in order to stop the audience being 'bored'. Sheesh!
DeleteThe music lends itself to the traditional Raymondo
DeleteI agree with you john ,
DeleteLee
Thank you for the Roger vignette - you said he is dim but such a deep interest in something outdoors surely indicates an awareness to be cherished.
ReplyDeleteCeci
He’s there again tonight
Delete
ReplyDeleteYou made me smile with your little disappointment to you 3 of Carmen.I really hope that you at least knew that the text was in French!
When we were young my brother was singing to me a parody on the air of « Toréador… » that I can't resist sharing with you .It was ( please don’t be shocked we were small)
🎶 Toréador ! Ton cul n’est pas en or ! …
I just see that this inspired Simpsons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9xERUY16n0
My sisters did note that it would be better in Spanish lol
DeleteSûre! 🤣
DeleteLucky you
ReplyDeleteI am weaver, more about that tomorrow
DeleteEvery time I hear "Carmen" I think of that episode of "Gilligan's Island" where the castaways put on a show for visiting director Harold Hecuba, singing adapted songs from Bizet.
ReplyDeleteAre u on drugs
DeleteWhat an amazing voice and in the 2nd video, how poised and confident at only 22!
ReplyDeleteNice that you and your sisters had fun together, despite there being no ballet!
Might Roger have eneterrd his Zen stage?
Hugs!
Roger zen? I doubt that very much
DeleteA dropped tomato had him scurrying for his crate
Excellent voice and very reminiscent of Maria Callas, thank you
ReplyDeleteThere’s something about her for sure
DeleteIt’s a live production filmed for a local cinema
ReplyDeleteIs it happening live as you are watching, a live broadcast?
ReplyDeleteYes
ReplyDelete