Seduced by Shaman and other great performances

Carmen
Cultural Centre Grand Theatre
May 11

The new production of Carmen presented by Opera Hong Kong as part of Le French May scored strongly with world-class performances, even if it disappointed in other areas.

Director Philippe Arlaud has some good ideas, notably showing that Jose has a dark, violent side to him from early on. His use of the bullfight as a metaphor was effective but went wrong at the end when the climactic moment of Carmen's death at Jose's hands was undermined by the abrupt appearance of the toreador Escamillo in the background in an effect more ludicrous than dramatic.

The treatment of Carmen's friends Frasquita and Mercedes as comic relief was ill-judged and, worst of all, the dancing in the tavern sequence was cringe-makingly inept.

Arlaud's big, clumsy sets made the stage look restricted and Andrea Uhmann's costumes were uninspired. Conductor Benjamin Pionnier's pacing dragged, especially in act three and the Shanghai Opera House Orchestra's sound was too light for Bizet's full-blooded score.

Happily the weak points were outweighed by an extraordinary trio of principal performances. Rinat Shaham's magnificent interpretation of the title role showed why she has been hailed as one of the leading Carmens of her generation.