United Kingdom Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Refrain and Orchestra of the Ukrainian Opera and Ballet Theatre, Kyiv / Vasyl Vasylenko (conductor). Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, 27.3.2024. (JPr)

Creatives:
Director – Ellen Kent
Firm supervisor and Stage director – Victor Donos
Lighting designer/Operator – Valeriu Cucarschi
Refrain mistress – Kateryna Kondratenko-Savienkova

Solid:
Carmen – Irina Sproglis
Don José – Davit Sumbadze
Escamillo – Iurie Gisca
Micaëla – Alyona Kistenyova
Zuniga – Valeriu Cojocaru
Moralès / Le Dancaïre – Vitalii Cebotari
Frasquita – Anastasiia Blokha
Mercédès – Marharyta Bohachova
Le Remendado – Nicolae Cebanu

The origins of Carmen – apparently the most well-liked opera ever written – return to Andalusia in 1830 when the French creator Prosper Mérimée heard an anecdote a few gypsy woman killed by a jealous lover. Following one other fifteen years of travelling in Spain, in addition to encountering and studying about gypsies, Mérimée printed his novella Carmen in 1845. In it a Spanish soldier Don José Navarro, who’s passionately in love with the gypsy Carmen; deserts his regiment to observe a lifetime of crime and homicide for her. As a result of Carmen appears incapable of staying trustworthy to him, Navarro kills her and whereas awaiting his execution for his crime recounts his story to the novel’s narrator. In Carmen, Mérimée created one of many best femme fatales in all literature; a girl exploiting her sexuality and mystique to additional her personal ends. Mérimée’s Carmen is ‘prettier than any gypsy’ with eyes which are each sensual and savage, who as a result of she can not afford fragrance wears closely scented flowers. She is trustworthy to her personal folks and can’t tolerate José’s possessive love for her. Carmen loves her freedom greater than the rest and faces demise boldly, completely resigned to her destiny, bringing her story to a tragic finish.

It’s not clear why Bizet selected Carmen, described as ‘a sober laconic low life story solely barely relieved by the unique setting of Spain’, as the topic for an opera: he had by no means been to Spain and knew little its music. The administration of the Opéra-Comique in Paris (the place it was to be placed on) objected to its assorted gypsies, prostitutes, thieves and cut-throats. Even Bizet’s librettists, Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy didn’t notably look after the mission, revising the story a lot to the composer’s displeasure to make it work higher as an opera and be extra acceptable to the mores of the day. To assist Mérimée’s two central characters, they added Micaëla to symbolise the innocence of José’s village and in addition included Escamillo to embody the kind of man Carmen can not resist.

The 1875 premiere was not successful and the press had been hostile. Bizet pronounced it ‘a particular and hopeless flop’; it made him sick and doubtless contributed to his early demise. For others akin to his fellow composer Massenet, it had been ‘An incredible success’ and Tchaikovsky later referred to as it ‘A masterpiece’. There had been many mishaps on the primary evening: the tenor Paul Lhérie had vocal issues; the cigarette women, who weren’t used to smoking, choked in Act I (there is no such thing as a smoking on the Cliffs Pavilion!); as Carmen, Celestine Galli-Marié misplaced her castanets and needed to break a plate onstage and use that; additionally the timpanist misinterpret his rating and intruded loudly through the duet between Don José and Carmen. From this poor begin, Bizet’s Carmen has gained its huge reputation through the years.

Ellen Kent’s Carmen staging gives a completely pleasant evening on the opera for audiences because it continues its UK tour and the tickets costs are additionally very affordable.  It’s a good, trustworthy, entertaining try at doing all it must do – inform the story clearly, permit the singers to do their greatest and make good use of the area obtainable. There’s a single set – the within of a Roman Temple? – with columns and bulls’ heads within the alcoves for all of the scenes of the opera with just some modifications in stage furnishings; whether or not Seville’s city sq., an inn, or a mountain move. Additionally, by way of the big doorways on the rear of the stage there will probably be a touch of some mountains for Act III and a bullring for the ultimate act. The costumes are appropriately vibrant and take us again to the early-eighteenth century of the unique story.

There have been so many fantastic achievements for Ellen Kent since she began producing theatre, ballet and opera within the Eighties however one of the crucial vital ones (for her and her Senbla companions) – due to the latest troublesome occasions for the folks of Ukraine – is her promotion since 2002 of Ukrainian Opera corporations. She is quoted within the very informative memento brochure as saying how they’ve been given ‘the best profile all through the UK. Now we have taken the Ukrainian Nationwide Operas of Odessa and Kharkiv many occasions to the Royal Albert Corridor and to many essential venues within the UK such because the Manchester Opera Home. Most not too long ago, we toured the Ukrainian Opera and Ballet Theatre Kyiv within the UK and Eire in Spring 2023 which was an enormous success, and the Ukrainian Nationwide Anthem was proudly performed after each efficiency.’

It was poignant to see everybody stand for the Ukrainian Nationwide Anthem being sung on the finish of Carmen on the Cliffs Pavilion, a second of collective assist for that nation’s ongoing struggles. Below the banner once more of the Ukrainian Opera and Ballet Theatre Kyiv, a polyglot solid of principals, a valiant modest-sized refrain and orchestra – all greater than sufficient to their job – did Carmen proud. From the very first notes of the opera’s prelude Vasyl Vasylenko (inventive director of the Opera and Ballet Theatre Kyiv) whipped his musicians by way of the rating with as a lot Andalusian warmth as they might muster for the riveting drama. (Recalling the timpanist intruding loudly on the 1875 premiere, the drums had been overwhelmed over-enthusiastically through the prelude on the Cliffs Pavilion nearly as if it was a timpani solo!)

Strong tenor Davit Sumbadze was a stolid Don José to start with and it’s not fully clear why Carmen units her sights on him initially, however Sumbadze got here into his personal when releasing all his character’s pent-up anger in Act IV and despatching Carmen. So by no means doubtful was how Sumbadze’s efficiency grew in vocal stature as Don José disintegrated by way of jealously. Irina Sproglis was an excellent, world-class Carmen, brash, sultry and manipulative when toying with José’s affection; the eagerness of her duets with José rang true and her chocolatey, vibrant mezzo-soprano voice impressed me.

Iurie Gisca – trying uncannily just like the late film star Charles Bronson – introduced swaggering machismo to Escamillo and had all of the vocal energy and projection to pin the viewers’s ears again for a rabble-rousing toreador’s tune ‘Votre toast’, although I don’t suppose his French was one of the best we heard. Alyona Kistenyova’s Micaëla was somewhat a ‘shrinking violet’ and no match for Carmen although she sang with some delicate silvery tones however with a noticeable vibrato.  Valeriu Cojocaru did an amusing drunk act as José’s lieutenant, Zuniga, whereas Anastasiia Blokha (Frasquita) and Marharyta Bohachova (Mercédès) caught the attention and ear through the Act II Smugglers’ Quintet and studying the playing cards in Act III. The small refrain did wonders filling in as townsfolk, troopers, flamenco dancers, battling cigarette manufacturing unit women, Escamillo’s supporters, gypsies and extra, singing all through with full-throated enthusiasm.

Whether or not you’re new to Carmen or, like me, have seen it many occasions you will see the efficiency very musically satisfying, as these in a really well-filled Cliffs Pavilion clearly did.

Jim Pritchard

For extra about Ellen Kent’s Carmen, La traviata and Madama Butterfly on tour click on right here.