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Editorial Reviews
Opera conducted by James Levine and featuring the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Stars Jose Carreras, Agnes Baltsa, Leona Mitchell, Samuel Ramey and Diane Kesling.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This outstanding work is given no better a performance than here from the principles and the fine Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The role of Carmen is sung with a fiery passion by the very powerful mezzo of Agnes Baltsa. Her interaction with Carreras is emotionally powerful as well as musically satisfying. Special mention must be given to the wonderful interpretation of the role of Don Jose by Carreras- the best interpretation available in audio today( note the brilliant recording with Karajan). He is vocally poweful in the finale of Act three as well as exquisite in the Flower Song with a soaring B-flat sung pianissimo. He totally identifies with the character( as in all his roles really). James Levine and the Orchestra provide impressive accompaniment, providing a pillow for the principles(Levine's interpretation is less rigid than Maazel but not as creative as Karajan). Regardless of this , the performance is indicative of what a night at the opera should be.
42 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I am prompted to write this review to correct what I perceive as a misleading previous review. This is a sumptuous production from the Met. The special strong points of the production, as I see it are the usual excellent Met orchestra, sets and acting, the excellent childrens' chorus, the quality of the secondary characters Micaela (Leona Mitchell) and Escamillo (Samuel Ramey), AND the quality of the singers Carmen (Agnes Baltsa) and Don Jose (Jose Carreras). I found the singing of Don Jose relatively accurate but, more important, the style of singing and the acting seem almost perfect. Carmen is also extremely well played. The singing is quite accurate and the amount of energy and management of the mix of low and upper registers is quite impressive. I have almost no reservations about this excellent production.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you are relatively new to opera as I am, Baltsa's performance of Carmen may have to grow on you - as it did on me - but you'll have no trouble admiring and appreciating Carreras' Don Jose character right away. (The role is one of his specialties.) Back to Baltsa: You'll have to get over her physical apperance -Carmen is supposed to be 17!- as a temptress
and then you will enjoy her portrayal. Magnificent voice!
Samuel Ramey is dripping with confidence as Escamillo, the bullfighter, and his voice is really nice.
Leona Mitchell's voice is less than perfect in this live performance, but it is a voice I would be greatful to own.
She is a sweet Micaela, (The girl who loves Don Jose) and is rather convincing in her big aria in act 3.
There is a wonderful supporting cast, although some of the older women in the Met chorus will gross you out in their 'cigarette-girl' costumes in Act 1!
And now what the Carreras fans are waiting for: How was Carreras in this performance? It would take an entire book of positive adjectives to describe his stellar, passionate performance. Here you will find a great artist -in real life on the brink of being diagnosed with leukemia- singing his heart and soul out with fire, urgency, and love. He puts everything into this role and the audience -you & I- are richly rewarded!
Conclusion: Don't miss this one!!!
and then you will enjoy her portrayal. Magnificent voice!
Samuel Ramey is dripping with confidence as Escamillo, the bullfighter, and his voice is really nice.
Leona Mitchell's voice is less than perfect in this live performance, but it is a voice I would be greatful to own.
She is a sweet Micaela, (The girl who loves Don Jose) and is rather convincing in her big aria in act 3.
There is a wonderful supporting cast, although some of the older women in the Met chorus will gross you out in their 'cigarette-girl' costumes in Act 1!
And now what the Carreras fans are waiting for: How was Carreras in this performance? It would take an entire book of positive adjectives to describe his stellar, passionate performance. Here you will find a great artist -in real life on the brink of being diagnosed with leukemia- singing his heart and soul out with fire, urgency, and love. He puts everything into this role and the audience -you & I- are richly rewarded!
Conclusion: Don't miss this one!!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beautifully produced and sung
Carmen has always held a special place in my soul. In the 50's it was Simionato & Stevens, in the 60's it was Price & Callas, in the 70's it was Horne & Berganza and in the 80'... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joseph W. Giles
Magnificent!
Until recently I had never believed there would be a Carmen to equal Rise Stevens, and then there was Agnes Baltsa. She knows exactly who Carmen was .. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Grandma Paulsen
Absolutely marvellous!
I had seen this outstanding Met performance x-number of times before and finally bought it on DVD. Contrary to some reviewers I found this a crisp, clear and altogether flawless... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Hildegard Brosseau
L'amour est un oiseau rebel
Bought this particular Carmen because I remembered it as being one of the most enjoyable evenings at the Met. Read more
Published 17 months ago by violettalfreddo
not the best DVD
I bought this DVD because I had seen Agnes Baltsa in "Carmen" back in 1971 or 1972, in a Houston Grand Opera production. Read more
Published on February 10, 2010 by Michael F. Burdick
"Love so right, can turn out to be so wrong" or "Games people play!"
This is a fine MET production from 1988 (omg, I remember the first time I watched it on TV... now I feel old! Read more
Published on June 11, 2009 by S. Bernard
"Carmen" the Opera
For ages I have been familiar with this opera, and once upon a time designed costumes for it, too. This version was somewhat different, but very good. Read more
Published on April 8, 2008 by Bonnie Roncayolo
The star 'Jose'
This MET production in 1987 is in many ways illustrious: two top opera stars in the lead roles, big staging and festive choruses plus good dancers. Read more
Published on April 18, 2007 by Abel
Excellent Voices... BUT
If you are looking for a version with excellent voices, this is it!!!
If you are looking for a great "theatrical" production, this is it!!! Read more
If you are looking for a great "theatrical" production, this is it!!! Read more
Published on February 8, 2007 by COCOCO
Carreras and Baltsa are stealing the show
At first I have to say that a lot of operas often happen to have a wonderful tenor and a really bad soprano or vice versa. This is absolutely not the case here. Read more
Published on September 16, 2005 by PhantomOfTheOpera
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