French flair, American-style: Cracknell's Carmen returns to the Met

Clémentine Margaine (Carmen) and Michael Fabiano (Don José)

Clémentine Margaine (Carmen) and ensemble

Ailyn Pérez (Micaëla) and Michael Fabiano (Don José)

Clémentine Margaine (Carmen), Ryan Speedo Green (Escamillo) and ensemble

By Kevin W Ng, 26 April 2024

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“Michael Fabiano, whose combustible stage presence is an ideal fit for Don José”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 25 April 2024

Bizet, Carmen

Metropolitan Opera

Diego Matheuz, Conductor

Carrie Cracknell, Director

Michael Levine, Set Designer

Tom Scutt, Costume Designer

Guy Hoare, Lighting Designer

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

The Metropolitan Opera Chorus

rocafilm, Projection designer

Roland Horvath, Projection designer

Clémentine Margaine, Carmen

Michael Fabiano, Don José

Ryan Speedo Green, Escamillo

Ailyn Pérez, Micaëla

Sydney Mancasola, Frasquita

Briana Hunter, Mercédès

Frederick Ballentine, Le Remendado

Michael Adams, Le Dancaïre

Benjamin Taylor, Moralès

Wei Wu, Zuniga

Ann Yee, Choreography

Asmik Grigorian strengthens the Met’s revival of Eugene Onegin

Susan Stempleski, 20th April

The Lithuanian soprano’s riveting performance as the central character in Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterpiece lights up Deborah Warner’s mostly bland production.

****1

Innocence: Saariaho’s final opera receives New York premiere

Kurt Gottschalk, 6th April

At the Metropolitan Opera, Innocence proves a gripping and perhaps divisive piece which feels real because it is a reflection of our reality, with no realistic hope of finding peace.

*****

Tristan und Isolde at the Met: staging gets in the way of the music

No’a L. bat Miri, 9th March

Michael Spyres shines in his debut as Tristan alongside powerhouse soprano Lise Davidsen as Isolde in Yuval Sharon's new, beguiling production at the Metropolitan Opera.

***11

Ailyn Pérez is the perfect Butterfly in the Met’s revival

Robert Levine, 13th January

Good Butterflys are not that difficult to come by but great ones are very very rare. Ailyn Pérez fits the bill in this revival of Anthony Minghella’s classic staging.

*****

Vocal thrills in Met’s traditional staging of Bellini’s I puritani

Susan Stempleski, 31st December

Marco Armiliato conducts a finely balanced rendition of Bellini's final masterpiece with a stellar cast headed by Lisette Oropesa and Lawrence Brownlee.

*****

Porgy and Bess returns stronger than ever at the Met

Robert Levine, 7th December

Back to Catfish Row for another revival of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and James Robinson’s show continue to wow our writer.

*****

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Kevin W Ng

Kevin writes about music and culture, with a focus on opera. Originally trained as a violinist, he has a particular interest in 20th-century music. He is currently based in New York City.

French flair, American-style: Carrie Cracknell's Carmen returns to the Met