Richard Eyre's Carmen breathes fresh air with a new and youthful cast led by mezzo soprano Anita Rachvelishivili and Tenors Yonghoon Lee and Andrew Richards.
The Production
Richard Eyre's winning production returns to the Met after two successful runs. The production which premiered in 2009 brought a new and refreshing look to the work which had been plagued with two bland productions in a row. Set in the Franco period, Richard Eyre chose to use a rotating turntable to move the action forward. The turntable easily changes into a town square, a tavern where gypsies mingle, the smugglers hideout and the area outside the bullring. The sets are brought to life by ominous bricks and the lighting design. Eyre also brings a new element to the work using three choreographed dances during the preludes and interludes of each act. These dances depict the tumultuous relationship of Carmen and Don Jose. Some of the other memorable aspects of the production is the dance that starts the second act where Eyre brings together a Flamenco choreograph inspired by Carlo's Saura's movie "Carmen" and the reveal of the bullring at the end as the Toreador kills the bull emphasizing Carmen and Don Jose's relationship being similar to that of a bullfight. Bringing this production back should be a real treat especially with a brand new cast.
