Metropolitan Opera Archives

It is doubtful that Minneapolis has ever seen and heard a finer performance of ‘Carmen” than the one that terminated the Metropolitan Opera company’s sixth local season Sunday afternoon in Northrop auditorium.

It was an amazingly fresh and vital production, giving spectators an uncanny sense of rediscovery of a familiar classic.

Trying to single out credits for this rousing performance is difficult, for all departments were in top form and all were working closely together. But one couldn’t fail to notice the finesse and sensitiveness of Jonel Perlea’s direction.

Then, too, this “Carmen” was as dramatically sound as it was musically sound – a shining example of resourcefulness and urgency in the narrative as presented visually. In other words, here was acting, unhammed acting, to go with the singing. And the singing was of unusual luster in all the lead roles as well as in the chorus.

Rise Stevens’ Carmen is one long to remember, because it was an expert and probing characterization of the wild gypsy girl, as well as a superb singing job. In Stevens’ treatment, Carmen was certainly a hard-boiled babe, raffishly seductive, cruel, a taunting temptress.

Ramon Vinay as the luckless and love-duped Don José was also something with the sterling mark on it – a convincing portrait linked with sturdy and well managed tones. When we get to Nadine Conner’s Micaela, we reach something of truly special quality. The purity and precision of her singing was matched by a characterization of simple, endearing charm.

The Escamillo of Robert Merrill , had virility but also distinction, his act II entrance superbly done and his later work of fine character. Lorenzo Alvary’s Zuniga was first-rate, and the same must be said of the smugglers and their female associates as sung by George Cehanovsky, Alessio de Paolis, Anne Bollinger and Jean Madeira – these four making a corking quintet with Stevens in the second act.

The ensemble scenes and the ballet – with Marina Svetlova and Leon Varkas again contributing some vibrant dances – made grand and thrilling stage pictures.

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