CarMen

This all-male production of CarMen saw the classic story unfold in liberal ’20s Spain, and retains all the drama and excitement of Bizet’s original. Carmen himself made dazzling inroads into a mezzo-soprano voice, truly soaring at times and reaching points of stillness and clarity that impressively filled the Warren’s festival tent-like Main House. The Don José role captured the frustration and passion of the man perfectly; he lacked the requisite vengeful rage in the ending but had a rich tenor that was one of the most traditionally operatic. The Escamillo had a fun strut and confident voice about him, and the whole production was enjoyable, moving and a lovely cut-price foray into opera.

The Warren, 5 May 2015

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