Tonight:
5°c
Critic's choice: Opera
By
Barry Millington
22 Jan 2007
With its pouting, hip-swinging femme fatale and thumping good tunes, Bizet's Carmen is for many the epitome of opera.
All the more surprising that it hadn't been seen at Covent Garden for some twelve years before it returned in glory last month.
Francesca Zambello's new production plays up the spectacle for all its worth: there's cleavage in abundance, tight-trousered matadors, abseiling bandits and a spectacular horseback entrance for the toreador Escamillo.
The new cast taking over includes the Hungarian mezzo Viktoria Vizin as the brazen cigarette-girl in the title role, driving poor Don Jose (Marco Berti) to distraction and ultimately to his doom. Philippe Auguin conducts.
(020 7304 4000) Tonight, Wednesday 24 Jan, 7pm
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
