Carmen's charms are lost on a Paris audience

By Leopold Tobisch, 10 December 2012

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Reviewed at Opéra national de Paris: Opéra Bastille, Paris on 7 December 2012

Bizet, Carmen

Opéra national de Paris

Philippe Jordan, Conductor

Yves Beaunesne, Director

Nikolai Schukoff, Don José

Ludovic Tézier, Escamillo

Edwin Crossley-Mercer, Le Dancaïre

François Piolino, Le Remendado

François Lis, Zuniga

Alexandre Duhamel, Moralès

Anna Caterina Antonacci, Carmen

Genia Kühmeier, Micaëla

Pomp meets ping-pong: Nixon in China lands again in Paris

David Karlin, 14th March

Excellent vocal acting from Thomas Hampson, Renée Fleming, Xiaomeng Zhang and a magnificent orchestral performance conducted by Kent Nagano can't make Valentina Carrasco's production fully grip.

***11

Thomas Adès’ high-flying Exterminating Angel in Paris

Erwan Gentric, 29th February

The French premiere of the British composer's opera will be the undisputed high point of the Grande Boutique's season: a perfect confluence of music, staging and cast.

*****

Shock and awe in Paris with Bernstein's A Quiet Place

David Karlin, 9th March

In the expert hands of both director Warlikowski and conductor Kent Nagano, the sequel to Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti proves to be even darker and more dramatic.

*****

A long road to nowhere for Igor at the Bastille

Mark Pullinger, 1st December

Barrie Kosky's makes a limited impact in his debut at Opéra de Paris, apart from an hallucinogenic Polovtsian Dances.

***11

Les Indes galantes: with Alarcón, Rameau conquers the Bastille

Philippe Ramin, 28th September

The new production of Les Indes galantes at Opéra Bastille is exceptional, from the vocal cast to the choreography by Bintou Dembélé. But the stand-out performance of the evening comes from conductor Leonardo Garcia Alarcón.

*****

Don Giovanni according to Ivo van Hove: a puritan despite himself?

Pierre Liscia-Beaurenaut, 16th June

Don Giovanni returns to the Palais Garnier. The production by Ivo van Hove lacks energy but is wonderfully served by a cast of great young talents.

***11

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Leopold Tobisch

Leopold is currently working on his PhD, examining the music and politics in Paris during the events of May '68. A violinist, amateur photographer and overall musical omnivore, he is currently living in Paris in order to further his PhD research.