Carmen – Car men?
Just back from the last night of this year’s revival of the ENO Carmen at the Coliseum.
Translated to the end of the Franco era it is not for mid 19th century purists (first performed in 1875 it is re-set to the 1970s – save for smart phones and selfies).
This is not a traditional Carmen and it’s storyline is a great deal more ‘woke’ than it might be, with rather more Harvey Weinstein moments (with the rude soldiery, inter alia) than even a normal Carmen production might aspire to.
With sets almost bare (save for six, count them six, cars in the smuggling scene – did the designer misunderstand the ‘Car-men’ title?), and with lighting set to dim (even in the last act which is set in a Seville afternoon, not notoriously overcast) this gives little impression of being set in Spain.
Which is not to say that much of the action isn’t compelling, as is also the singing (granted that the ENO English version did keep putting the musical stresses on the wrong words).
An interesting Carmen to watch, a great one to listen to.