The Last Verista

Two major North American companies are simultaneously staging Bizet’s “Carmen”, the Metropolitan Opera and the Canadian Opera Company.  It seems that Carmen, the woman and the opera, generates headlines and shakes things up no matter where she goes.  At both houses, cancellations made headlines and understudies either impressed or didn’t, much to the chagrin or pleasure of devoted Carmenites. Here are some reviews of both productions.

From the Associated Press: Gheorghiu cancels remainder of Carmen at the Met

Angela Gheorghiu

Metropolitan Opera Carmen stars Franco’s thugs and a Latvian Diva: Bloomberg

Elina Garanca

She’s Got Castanets, so let Carmen Dance from the New York Times

A scene from this season’s production of “Carmen”: to dance or not to dance?

Last minute stand in Carmen saves Canadian Opera Company’s Carmen from La Scena Musicale

Rinat Shaham fires up Toronto

Seductive, Sultry Carmen heats up the COC’S 2009/10 Winter Season from La Scena Musicale

COC’S “Carmen”