“Carmen 3D” was outstanding!. Superb performances – acting as well as singing — by soprano Christine Rice (Carmen), tenor Bryan Hymel (Don Jose), and soprano Maija Kovalevska (Micaela). Among the many excellent performances, Rice delivers as an earthy Carmen on several fine arias, and Hymel’s impassioned arias at the end are energizing and positively gripping. Hymel is definitely a tenor to look for in the future. Kovalevska is poignantly beautiful as well as having a versatile soprano voice that is perfectly cast in the part of the lovely Micaela.
The 3D was generally very good, well photographed with excellent tonal range, always in sync, perfectly aligned vertically and rotationally, and very crisply sharp on the big screen. Commendable was its use of audience space for bringing many close-ups near enough to enhance the intimacy of the experience greatly. Quite a contrast to “Tron Legacy,” with the only flaws being an occasional (rare) lapse into 2D, mostly during brief long shots or group scenes where the distraction was minimal, although slightly annoying for the moment when it happens. (A couple of VERY rare small inter-axial telephoto close ups had the flattened look characteristic of the “Tron Legacy” close ups, but these were too few and too short to be worthy of criticism.) My memories of this performance will be vividly in 3D, and I cannot imagine anyone saying that it would be “just as good” in 2D!
But what is happening with Los Angeles opera fans? There was only one performance at this theater complex yesterday (Wednesday), at 6:30 PM, and with this quality of performance (and 3D!), the place should have been packed.
Pam Bloxham and I were the only ones in this large auditorium throughout the whole 255 minute show!
What a waste for such a fine production!
Please tell your non-opera-going friends that, if they have ever considered going, this Carmen is an an awfully good way to be introduced to opera (as well as to very good 3D), and as for yourself, DON”T MISS IT (unless you positively hate all opera without exception!). This is a production with high-quality talent portrayed in very good 3D, and it seems to be fighting for its life! Please get the word out — GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS AND GO SEE IT BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS!
Cordially,
Oliver Dean
I agree, this was superb; one of the best 3D movies ever. I also enjoyed the backstage preliminaries, and especially the intimate shots in the “pit” of the orchestra. The conductor miming the players was a nice touch. I was hoping that they would have returned for more orchestra shots and backstage shots during the intermission, but they didn’t. However, the countdown clock was reminiscent of the drive-in movies clocks. The stereoscopic imaging was very well planned and designed. A lot of work went into this production. Stereographer Phil Streather should be congratulated.
There were only about a dozen people at the screening that I saw. It is really too bad that so many people (both opera fans and 3D fans) missed it. It was not promoted. They did have a website, but you would have missed it if you did not know that it was there. No newspaper ads, no bus stop posters, no theater placards or one-sheets. No radio or TV spots that I am aware of. No pre-announcements. No publicity. Nothing. The small attendance is not surprising when you consider that no one knew about it.