This is a thrillingly fresh and vibrant version of
Carmen, conducted by Simon Rattle, writes Rupert Christiansen.
This thrillingly fresh and vibrant version of
Carmen, based on performances given in Salzburg and Berlin
earlier this year, deserves to rank with the classic recordings
conducted by Beecham and Abbado. Sir Simon Rattle has always
shown a rare affinity with the colours and flavours of French
music, and his Bizet proves as dazzling as his Debussy or Ravel
– full of swagger, exuberance and theatrical vitality, yet alive
to the finer details of the orchestration as well.
This
we may have expected: but what is pleasantly surprising is the
success of Magdalena Kozená in the title role, which she
presents as a convincingly cool and intelligent Carmen of real
dignity and complex feelings.
Jonas Kaufmann is a
heroic José, Genia Kühmeier sounds appropriately sweet
and virginal as Micaela, while Kostas Smoriginas blusters
effectively enough as the absurd Escamillo.
The chorus
of the Deutsche Oper Berlin is superb, while the Berlin
Philharmonic lets down its hair and plays for Rattle with
magnificent abandon. If you are tired of Carmen or think you
know the score backwards, here is a performance to make you fall
in love with it all over again. .