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<<  -- 5 --  Maria Nockin    SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL

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Jennifer Black was an affecting, silken-voiced Micaëla who had audience members sitting on the edge of their seats as she braved travel by night in the robber infested mountains of Act III. She sang with plaintive, rose petal lovely tones. Laurent Naouri was a convincing Escamillo whose strong personality pervaded the stage as he sang with floods of robust sound.

Laurent Naouri (Escamillo) and ensemble in the Santa Fe Opera production of Bizet's 'Carmen'. Photo © 2006 Ken Howard
Laurent Naouri (Escamillo) and ensemble in the Santa Fe Opera production of Bizet's 'Carmen'. Photo © 2006 Ken Howard

As Frasquita and Mercédès, apprentices Sara Hibbard and Deborah Domanski sailed confidently through the more difficult areas of the score. Hibbard, in particular, sang with powerful tones. Tenor Keith Jameson and apprentice baritone David J Giuliano were visually piquant and vocally vigorous as Le Remendado and Le Dancaïre. David McFerrin was a spirited Moralès, Andrew Funk was an authoritative Zuniga and apprentice Jon-Michael Ball a commendable Andrès. Wade Thomas was a credible Lillas Pastia and Kevin Murphy was an amusingly frightened Guide.

Jennifer Black (Micaëla) and ensemble in the Santa Fe Opera production of Bizet's 'Carmen'. Photo © 2006 Ken Howard
Jennifer Black (Micaëla) and ensemble in the Santa Fe Opera production of Bizet's 'Carmen'. Photo © 2006 Ken Howard

This was a very different, somewhat controversial Carmen production that provided an interesting change from the usual presentation of the Bizet masterpiece.

Copyright © 20 August 2006 Maria Nockin, Arizona USA

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Since 1957, Santa Fe Opera has been attracting visitors every July and August to the company's dramatic adobe theater in the nothern New Mexico mountains. Casts, production teams and audiences are all international. In 2003, the world première of Bright Sheng's Madame Mao received world-wide press attention.

There are two further performances of the reviewed production of Carmen on Wednesday 23 and Saturday 26 August 2006, both at 8pm.

The company's 2007 season (29 June to 25 August) includes the American première of Tan Dun's Tea: A Mirror of Soul, new productions of Puccini's La bohème, Strauss's Daphne and Rameau's Platée, and a revival of Mozart's Così fan tutte.

You can find further information at www.santafeopera.org

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