TRAGEDY OF CARMEN
Syracuse Opera
"Electrifying... First-rate production... Not to be missed." The Post-Standard
Director: Jeffrey Marc Buchman
Choreographer: Rosa Mercedes
Lighting Designer: Chris Ostrom
Carmen: Ola Rafalo
Don Jose: Brent Reilly Turner
Micaela: Colleen Daly
Escamillo: Wes Mason
"One of the highlights is the duet between the two men vying for Carmen's love. Sung while the men are engaged in a knife battle staged as a bullfight on the round stage, this duet is both terrifying and stunning. This whirlwind rendition of the timeless story is not only well sung by an extremely talented cast but well acted. The intimate setting allowed the singers to explore the full range of emotions. The orchestra was sensitively and expertly led by Douglas Kinney Frost in this triumphal opening production which is not to be missed."
The Post-Standard
"The broad shouts of approval at the production’s conclusion suggests that great drama, expressed unconventionally, may merit a look. The fight sequence between Don José and Escamillo conjured a convincing sense of realism and danger. I especially liked Buchman’s clever and audacious touches during Carmen’s Habanera scene, as the seductress raises Micaela's arms and begins to work her as one would a marionette."
Opera Today